Scriptures

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Numbers 22
⁶ Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."
⁷ So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak’s words to him.
⁸ He said to them, "Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as the Lord may speak to me." And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam.
⁹ Then God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?"
¹⁰ Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me,
¹¹ ’Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.’"
¹² God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed."
¹³ So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak’s leaders, "Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you."
¹⁴ The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
¹⁵ Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former.
¹⁶ They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ’Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me;