1
And Balaamsaid unto Balak,Build me here sevenaltars, and prepare me here sevenoxen and sevenrams.
2
And Balakdid as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaamoffered on every altar a bullock and a ram.
3
And Balaamsaid unto Balak,Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.
4
And GodmetBalaam: and he said unto him, I have preparedsevenaltars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.
5
And the LORDput a word in Balaam'smouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.
6
And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.
7
And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defyIsrael.
8
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?
9
For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwellalone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
10
Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die* the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
11
And Balaksaid unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.