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.

¹⁸ But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.^(A)

³ No Ammonite^(A) or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation.^{(B) 4} For they did not come to meet you with bread and water^(C) on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam^(D) son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim^[a](E) to pronounce a curse on you.^{(F) 5} However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse^(G) into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves^(H) you. ⁶ Do not seek a treaty^(I) of friendship with them as long as you live.^(J)