So Balaamsaidto Balak,"Behold,I have comenowto you! Am I ableto speakanythingat all? The wordthat Godputsin my mouth,that I shall speak."
But Micaiahsaid,"As the LORDlives,whatthe LORDsaysto me, that I shall speak."
Then the kingsaidto him, "Howmanytimesmust I adjureyou to speakto me nothingbut the truthin the nameof the LORD?"
But Micaiahsaid,"As the LORDlives,whatmy Godsays,that I will speak."
The LORDnullifiesthe counselof the nations;He frustratesthe plansof the peoples.
For the wrathof manshall praiseYou; With a remnantof wrathYou will girdYourself.
Manyplansare in a man'sheart,But the counselof the LORDwill stand.
Causing the omensof boastersto fail,Makingfoolsout of diviners,Causing wisemento drawbackAnd turningtheir knowledgeinto foolishness,
Declaringthe endfrom the beginning,And from ancienttimesthings whichhave not been done,Saying,My purposewill be established,And I will accomplishallMy goodpleasure';
"Stand[fast] nowin your spellsAnd in your manysorceriesWith whichyou have laboredfrom your youth;Perhapsyou will be ableto profit,Perhapsyou may causetrembling.
Balaamrepliedto the servantsof Balak,"ThoughBalakwere to giveme his housefullof silverand gold,I couldnot doanything, either smallorgreat,contraryto the commandof the LORDmy God.
Then Balaksaidto Balaam,"Did I not urgentlysendto you to callyou? Whydid you not cometo me? Am I reallyunableto honoryou?"
And Balaamwentwith Balak,and they cameto Kiriath-huzoth.
He saidto them, "Spendthe nighthere,and I will bringwordbackto you as the LORDmay speakto me." And the leadersof Moabstayedwith Balaam.
Then the LORDmetBalaamand puta wordin his mouthand said,"Returnto Balak,and thusyou shall speak."
But Balaamrepliedto Balak,"Did I not tellyou, 'Whateverthe LORDspeaks,that I must do'?"
ThoughBalakwere to giveme his housefullof silverand gold,I couldnot doanything contraryto the commandof the LORD,either goodorbad,of my own accord.Whatthe LORDspeaks,that I will speak'?
