⁵ he sent messengers to Balaam^(A) son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people.^[a][b] Balak said to him, “Look, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the surface of the land^(B) and are living right across from me. ⁶ Please come and put a curse on these people for me because they are more powerful than I am. I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed.”^(C)