⁷ So the elders of Moab and Midian left to visit Balaam, bringing an honorarium with them,^[a] and communicated Balak’s concerns to him. ⁸ In answer, Balaam^[b] told them, “Stay here for the night and I’ll bring back a message^[c] to you, depending on what the Lord says to me.” So the officers of Moab stayed with Balaam overnight.

God Forbids Balaam to Cooperate

⁹ God visited Balaam and asked him, “Who are these men with you?”

¹⁰ Then Balaam told God, “Zippor’s son Balak, king of Moab, sent them to me and said, ¹¹ ‘Look! A group of^[d] people have escaped from Egypt. They cover the surface of the whole earth! So come right now and curse them for me. Perhaps I’ll be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

¹² But God told Balaam, “Don’t go with them. Don’t curse the people, because they’re blessed.”

¹³ So Balaam got up the next morning and told Balak’s officials, “Go back to your homeland, because the Lord has refused me permission to go with you.”

¹⁴ So Balak’s officials got up, returned to Balak and reported, “Balaam refused to come with us.”