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18-24 And he replied,

“Rise up, Balak, and hear:

Listen to me, you son of Zippor.

God is not a man, that he should lie;

He doesn’t change his mind like humans do.

Has he ever promised,

Without doing what he said?

Look! I have received a command to bless them,

For God has blessed them,

And I cannot reverse it!

He has not seen sin in Jacob.

He will not trouble Israel!

Jehovah their God is with them.

He is their king!

God has brought them out of Egypt.

Israel has the strength of a wild ox.

No curse can be placed on Jacob,

And no magic shall be done against him.

For now it shall be said of Israel,

‘What wonders God has done for them!’

These people rise up as a lion;

They shall not lie down

Until they have eaten what they capture

And have drunk the blood of the slain!”

25 “If you aren’t going to curse them, at least don’t bless them!” the king exclaimed to Balaam.

26 But Balaam replied, “Didn’t I tell you that I must say whatever Jehovah tells me to?”

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24 The people rise like a lioness;(A)
    they rouse themselves like a lion(B)
that does not rest till it devours its prey
    and drinks the blood(C) of its victims.”

25 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”

26 Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?”(D)

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