Numbers 23:1-12
Balaam’s First Oracle

1 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.

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2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on [every] altar a bullock and a ram.

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3 And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.

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4 And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon [every] altar a bullock and a ram.

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5 And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

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6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.

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7 And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, [saying], Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.

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8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, [whom] the LORD hath not defied?

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9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

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10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth [part] of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

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11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed [them] altogether.

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12 And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?

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