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 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.”

⁷ The elders of Moab and Midian departed with fees for divination in hand.^(B) They came to Balaam and reported Balak’s words to him.

⁴ This is because they did not meet you with food and water on the journey after you came out of Egypt, and because Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim was hired to curse you.^(A)

² because they did not meet the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam against them to curse them,^(A) but our God turned the curse into a blessing.^(B)

¹¹ Woe to them! For they have traveled in the way of Cain,^(A) have abandoned themselves to the error of Balaam^(B) for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.^(C)

¹⁴ But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block^[a] in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.^[b]