² Now Balak son of Zippor^(A) saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, ³ and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread^(B) because of the Israelites.

⁴ The Moabites^(C) said to the elders of Midian,^(D) “This horde is going to lick up everything^(E) around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.^(F)”

So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, ⁵ sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor,^(G) who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River,^(H) in his native land. Balak said:

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

⁸ “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.^(M)” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.

⁹ God came to Balaam^(N) and asked,^(O) “Who are these men with you?”

¹⁰ Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: ¹¹ ‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’”

⁷ Then Balaam^(A) spoke his message:^(B)

¹⁰ Then Balak’s anger burned^(A) against Balaam. He struck his hands together^(B) and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies,^(C) but you have blessed them^(D) these three times.^(E)

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.