Bil’am said to Balak: “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”

Balak did as Bil’am requested. Balak and Bil’am then sacrificed as burnt-offerings an ox and a ram on each altar.

Bil’am said to Balak: “Stand beside your burnt-offering and I will go away. Perhaps, [a word from before] Adonoy will appear to me, and whatever He will show me I will tell you.” And he went away alone.

[A word from before] God chanced to appear to Bil’am, and he said to Him: “I have set up the seven altars and I offered [as burnt-offerings] an ox and a ram on the altar.”

Adonoy put a message in Bil’am's mouth and He said: “Return to Balak and tell him as follows.”

When he returned, Balak was still standing next to his burnt-offering together with all the dignitaries of Moav.

Bil’am set forth his parable, and said: “From Aram has Balak, King of Moav, brought me, out of the mountains of the east [saying]: 'Come, curse Yaakov for me; go, invoke wrath against Yisroel.

How can I curse, when God has not cursed? What Divine wrath can I evoke if Adonoy has not been angry?

For I view it, from the mountain peaks, I gaze upon it from the hills; behold! A people which shall dwell alone [and are destined to inhabit the world] and will not be reckoned among the nations [not be judged for annihilation].

Who can count the dust of [the house of] Yaakov [of whom it is said: they will multiply as the dust of the earth] or count the seed of Yisroel [or one of the four camps of Yisrael]? May my soul die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his.”

Balak said to Bil’am: “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies but you have in fact blessed them!”

Bil’am replied and said: “Only what Adonoy tells me must I be careful to say.”

Balak then said to him, “Come with me to another place from where you will see them. But you will see only a part of them, without seeing them all, and curse them for me from there.”

He took him [Bil’am] to the field of Tzofim, to the peak of the mountain; he built seven altars and sacrificed as a burnt-offering a bull and a ram on each altar.

He then said to Balak: “Stand here next to your burnt-offering, and I will be called here by chance [will continue there].”

[A word from before] Adonoy chanced to appear to Bil’am and placed the word in his mouth; He said: “Return to Balak and say as follows.”

When he returned, he (Balak) was still standing next to his burnt-offering accompanied by the Moavite dignitaries; Balak asked: “What did Adonoy say?”

Bil’am set forth his parable, and said: “Arise, Balak, and hear, listen closely to me [my word], son of Tzipor.

God is not like man that He should act falsely, nor is He mortal that He should change His mind. [God’s word is not as that of man who speaks with deceit. Nor is it as that of mankind who decree and then change their mind] Would He say and not do it? Or speak and not fulfill it [He says and does, and His word endures]?

Behold, I was commanded to bless, and [when] He has blessed, I cannot reverse it [turn my blessing from him].

[Behold,] One does not see evildoers [there are no idol worshippers] in [the house of] Yaakov; and He has seen no transgression [nor is there the work of liars] in Yisroel; [the word of] Adonoy, his God, is with [aids them] him, and he has the King's friendship [and the Shechinah of their King is among them].

God Who has brought them out of Egypt, has shown His great strength to them [with His might and loftiness].

For, there is no sorcery in [sorcerers wish no good to come to the house of] Yaakov, nor occult powers against [nor greatness for the house of] Yisroel; in due time it will be said to Yaakov and Yisroel, 'What has God done?'

Behold, a people that rises [dwells] like a young lion, and lifts itself up like a lion; he does not lie down [dwell in his land] until it devours its prey [slaughters the kill] and drinks the blood of its kill [inherits the wealth of nations].”

Balak said to Bil’am: “Also do not curse them, also do not bless them.”

Bil’am answered Balak and said: “Did I not tell you that all that Adonoy tells me will I do.”

Balak then said to Bil’am: “Come, I will take you somewhere else, perhaps God will consider it proper [it will be the will before Hashem] and you will curse them for me, from there.”

Balak took Bil’am to the peak of Pe’or which overlooks the Yeshimon.

Bil’am said to Balak: “Build seven altars for me here and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”

Balak did as Bil’am said, and he sacrificed as a burnt-offering a bull and a ram on each altar.