⁷ The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination.^(A) When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.

⁴ For they did not come to meet you with bread and water^(A) on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam^(B) son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim^[a](C) to pronounce a curse on you.^{(D) 5} However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse^(E) into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves^(F) you.

¹⁵ They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam^(A) son of Bezer,^[a] who loved the wages of wickedness.