Balak’s Second Message (to Balaam): ¹⁶ Don’t let anything stop you from coming to Moab; ¹⁷ there’s a lot in it for you—whatever you desire—and I’ll make sure you are treated with the greatest honors. Just, please, come and curse these people for me!

Balaam (to Balak’s messengers): ¹⁸ Even if Balak gave me everything he has, riches of silver and gold in his house, I simply couldn’t do it. It is impossible for me to say anything less or greater than what the Eternal One, my God, directs me to say.