¹Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.” ²So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar. ³“Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.” ⁴So Balaam went off to a barren height, and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.” ⁵Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.” ⁶So he returned to Balak, who was standing there beside his burnt offering, with all the princes of Moab. ⁷And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: ⁸How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? ⁹For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs, ¹⁰Who can count the dust of Jacob ¹¹Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them!” ¹²But Balaam replied, “Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?”