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18 He took up his parable, and said,

“Rise up, Balak, and hear!
    Listen to me, you son of Zippor.
19 God is not a man, that he should lie,
    nor a son of man, that he should repent.
Has he said, and he won’t do it?
    Or has he spoken, and he won’t make it good?
20 Behold, I have received a command to bless.
    He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it.
21 He has not seen iniquity in Jacob.
    Neither has he seen perverseness in Israel.
Yahweh his God is with him.
    The shout of a king is among them.
22 God brings them out of Egypt.
    He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.
23 Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob;
    Neither is there any divination with Israel.
Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel,
    ‘What has God done!’
24 Behold, a people rises up as a lioness.
    As a lion he lifts himself up.
He shall not lie down until he eats of the prey,
    and drinks the blood of the slain.”

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18 This was the message Balaam delivered:

“Rise up, Balak, and listen!
    Hear me, son of Zippor.
19 God is not a man, so he does not lie.
    He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
    Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
20 Listen, I received a command to bless;
    God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!
21 No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob;
    no trouble is in store for Israel.
For the Lord their God is with them;
    he has been proclaimed their king.
22 God brought them out of Egypt;
    for them he is as strong as a wild ox.
23 No curse can touch Jacob;
    no magic has any power against Israel.
For now it will be said of Jacob,
    ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’
24 These people rise up like a lioness,
    like a majestic lion rousing itself.
They refuse to rest
    until they have feasted on prey,
    drinking the blood of the slaughtered!”

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