¹⁰ Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me: ¹¹ ‘Hear this, the people who came out of Egypt cover the surface of the land; come now, curse them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” ¹² God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people [of Israel], for they are blessed.”