Num 23:1-10 | ESV | STEP | And Balaam said to Balak , Build for me here seven altars , and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams .

Numbers 23:1-10

Balaam’s First Oracle

1 And Balaam said to Balak, ^a“Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” 2 Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam ^boffered on each altar a bull and a ram. 3 And Balaam said to Balak, ^c“Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come ^dto meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” And he went to a bare height, 4 ^eand God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, “I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.” 5 And the Lord ^fput a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.” 6 And he returned to him, and behold, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering. 7 And Balaam ^gtook up his discourse and said,

“From ^hAram Balak has brought me,
the king of Moab ⁱfrom the eastern mountains:
‘Come, ^jcurse Jacob for me,
and come, denounce Israel!’
8 How can I curse whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?
9 For from the top of the crags ^kI see him,
from the hills I behold him;
behold, ^la people dwelling alone,
and ^mnot counting itself among the nations!
10 ⁿWho can count the dust of Jacob
or number the fourth part ^{▼▼Or dust clouds} of Israel?
Let me die ^pthe death of the upright,
and let my end be like his!”