⁸ “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.^(A)” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.

³¹ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before^(A) you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy^(B) for unjust gain.^(C)

¹² He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”^(A)

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)

⁶ he said, “Listen to my words: