Numbers 23:1-12

Berean Standard Bible

1 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.” 2 So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 3 “Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.” So Balaam went off to a barren height, 4 and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.” 5 Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.” 6 So he returned to Balak, who was standing there beside his burnt offering, with all the princes of Moab. 7 And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come and denounce Israel!’ 8 How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced? 9 For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs, and I watch them from the hills. Behold, a people dwelling apart, not reckoning themselves among the nations. 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous; let my end be like theirs!” 11 Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them!” 12 But Balaam replied, “Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?”