Numbers 23:5-12
English Standard Version
5 And the Lord (A)put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.” 6 And he returned to him, and behold, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering. 7 And Balaam (B)took up his discourse and said,
“From (C)Aram Balak has brought me,
the king of Moab (D)from the eastern mountains:
‘Come, (E)curse Jacob for me,
and come, denounce Israel!’
8 How can I curse whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?
9 For from the top of the crags (F)I see him,
from the hills I behold him;
behold, (G)a people dwelling alone,
and (H)not counting itself among the nations!
10 (I)Who can count the dust of Jacob
or number the fourth part[a] of Israel?
Let me die (J)the death of the upright,
and let my end be like his!”
11 And Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? (K)I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them.” 12 And he answered and said, (L)“Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 23:10 Or dust clouds
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
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