Numbers 23:16   (Read all of Numbers 23)

The Lord met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and give him this word."

Numbers 23:17   (Read all of Numbers 23)

So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, "What did the Lord say?"

Numbers 23:18   (Read all of Numbers 23)

Then he spoke his message: "Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor.

Numbers 23:19   (Read all of Numbers 23)

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Numbers 23:21   (Read all of Numbers 23)

"No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The Lord their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them.

Numbers 23:22   (Read all of Numbers 23)

God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox.

Numbers 23:23   (Read all of Numbers 23)

There is no divination against Jacob, no evil omens against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, 'See what God has done!'

Numbers 23:25   (Read all of Numbers 23)

Then Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!"

Numbers 23:26   (Read all of Numbers 23)

Balaam answered, "Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?"

Numbers 23:27   (Read all of Numbers 23)

Then Balak said to Balaam, "Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there."

Numbers 23:29   (Read all of Numbers 23)

Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."

Numbers 23:30   (Read all of Numbers 23)

Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Numbers 24:1   (Read all of Numbers 24)

Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.

Numbers 24:2   (Read all of Numbers 24)

When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him

Numbers 24:3   (Read all of Numbers 24)

and he spoke his message: "The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,

Numbers 24:4   (Read all of Numbers 24)

the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty,who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

Numbers 24:6   (Read all of Numbers 24)

"Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters.

Numbers 24:7   (Read all of Numbers 24)

Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. "Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.

Numbers 24:8   (Read all of Numbers 24)

"God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them.

Numbers 24:10   (Read all of Numbers 24)

Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.

Numbers 24:11   (Read all of Numbers 24)

Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded."

Numbers 24:12   (Read all of Numbers 24)

Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,

Numbers 24:13   (Read all of Numbers 24)

'Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord-and I must say only what the Lord says'?

Numbers 24:15   (Read all of Numbers 24)

Then he spoke his message: "The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,