^{15 Ref} Then he said to Balak, Take your place here by your burned offering, while I go over there to the Lord.

^{16 Ref} And the Lord came to Balaam, and put words in his mouth, and said, Go back to Balak, and this is what you are to say.

^{17 Ref} So he came to him where he was waiting by his burned offering with the chiefs of Moab by his side. And Balak said to him, What has the Lord said?

^{18 Ref} And in the words which the Lord had given him he said, Up! Balak, and give ear; give attention to me, O son of Zippor:

^{19 Ref} God is not a man, to say what is false; or the son of man, that his purpose may be changed: what he has said, will he not do? and will he not give effect to the words of his mouth?

^{20 Ref} See, I have had orders to give blessing: and he has given a blessing which I have no power to take away.

^{21 Ref} He has seen no evil in Jacob or wrongdoing in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the glad cry of a king is among them.

^{22 Ref} It is God who has taken them out of Egypt; his horns are like those of the mountain ox.

^{23 Ref} No evil power has effect against Jacob, no secret arts against Israel; at the right time it will be said of Jacob and of Israel, See what God has done!

^{24 Ref} See, Israel comes up like a she-lion, lifting himself up like a lion: he will take no rest till he has made a meal of those he has overcome, drinking the blood of those he has put to death.

^{25 Ref} Then Balak said to Balaam, If you will not put a curse on them, at all events do not give them a blessing.

^{26 Ref} But Balaam in answer said to Balak, Did I not say to you, I may only do what the Lord says?