¹² But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.^(A)”

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms^(B) with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

⁵ However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse^(A) into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves^(B) you.

²⁹ for God’s gifts and his call^(A) are irrevocable.^(B)

¹⁹ Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.^(A)”

²⁰ That night God came to Balaam^(B) and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”^(C)

¹⁶ and said, “I swear by myself,^(A) declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,^{(B) 17} I will surely bless you^(C) and make your descendants^(D) as numerous as the stars in the sky^(E) and as the sand on the seashore.^(F) Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,^{(G) 18} and through your offspring^[a] all nations on earth will be blessed,^[b](H) because you have obeyed me.”^(I)

⁶ David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: