Numbers 23:7-9

New International Reader's Version

“Balak brought me from the land of Aram.
    The king of Moab sent for me from the mountains in the east.
‘Come,’ he said. ‘Put a curse on Jacob’s people for me.
    Come. Speak against Israel.’
⁸ But how can I put a curse on
    people God hasn’t cursed?
How can I speak against
    people the Lord hasn’t spoken against?
⁹ I see them from the rocky peaks.
    I view them from the hills.
I see a group of people who live by themselves.
    They don’t consider themselves to be one of the nations.