^6 (A)Now, therefore, please come, ^(B)curse this people for me since they are too ^[a]mighty for me; perhaps I will be able to ^[b]defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

⁷ So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian left with the fees for ^(C)divination in their hands; and they came to Balaam and ^[c]repeated Balak’s words to him. ⁸ And he said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you just as the Lord may speak to me.” And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam.