04:022:004 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 04:022:005 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: 04:022:006 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. 04:022:007 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. 04:022:008 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 04:022:009 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? 04:022:010 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 04:022:011 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. 04:022:012 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. 04:022:013 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you. 04:022:014 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. 04:022:015 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. 04:022:016 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: 04:022:017 For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. 04:022:018 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. 04:022:019 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.