CLV(i)
5 Yahweh placed a word in the mouth of Balaam and said:Return to Balak and thus shall you speak.
6 So he returned to him and behold, he and all the chiefs of Moab were stationed at his ascent offering.
7 He took up his discourse and said:From Syria Balak gave me guidance, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east:Come now and curse Jacob for me! And come now and menace Israel.
8 How should I revile when El has not reviled him? How should I menace when Yahweh has not menaced?
9 For from the summit of the rocks I am seeing him, and from the hills I am regarding him. Behold, the people is tabernacling by itself alone, and among the nations it is not reckoning itself.
10 Who counts the soil-drift of Jacob? And who numbers the dust cloud of Israel? May my soul die the death of the upright, and may my hereafter be just as his!"
11 Then Balak said to Balaam:What have you done to me? To revile my enemies I took you, yet behold, you bless, yea bless them!"
12 Yet he answered and said:What Yahweh places in my mouth, is it not it that I should observe to speak?