³⁸ “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”^(A)

⁵ The Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth^(A) and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”^(B)

¹² He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”^(A)

¹⁶ The Lord met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth^(A) and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”

¹⁸ I will raise up for them a prophet^(A) like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words^(B) in his mouth.^(C) He will tell them everything I command him.^(D)

³ Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab^(A) put the words in her mouth.

¹⁹ The king asked, “Isn’t the hand of Joab^(A) with you in all this?”

The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything my lord the king says. Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant.