¹¹ Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? ^(A)I took you to curse my enemies, and look, you have blessed them bountifully!”

² because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but ^(A)hired Balaam against them to curse them. ^(B)However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.

¹⁰ Then Balak’s anger was aroused against Balaam, and he ^(A)struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, ^(B)“I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have bountifully blessed them these three times!

⁷ And he ^(A)took up his ^[a]oracle and said:

¹⁷ for I will certainly ^(A)honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. ^(B)Therefore please come, curse this people for me.’ ”

¹¹ ‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out.’ ”