sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor,(A) who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River,(B) in his native land. Balak said:

“A people has come out of Egypt;(C) they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. Now come and put a curse(D) on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land.(E) For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”

The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination.(F) When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.

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He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

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