⁷ So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went with a fee for divination in their hand; they came to Balaam and spoke the words of Balak to him. ⁸ He said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will return, and I will return word to you, just as Yahweh speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. ⁹ And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” ¹⁰ And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent word to me, ¹¹ ‘Look! A people went out from Egypt. Look! They cover the surface of the land.^[a] Now, go, curse them^[b] for me. Perhaps I will be able to attack them^[c] and drive them^[d] out.” ¹² God said to Balaam, “You will not go with them; you will not curse the people, because they^[e] are blessed.” ¹³ Balaam got up in the morning, and he said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land, because Yahweh refused to allow me to go with you.” ¹⁴ The princes of Moab got up and went to Balak, and they said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”