¹¹ ‘Look! A group of^[a] people have escaped from Egypt. They cover the surface of the whole earth! So come right now and curse them for me. Perhaps I’ll be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

¹² But God told Balaam, “Don’t go with them. Don’t curse the people, because they’re blessed.”

¹³ So Balaam got up the next morning and told Balak’s officials, “Go back to your homeland, because the Lord has refused me permission to go with you.”