1 Kwathi uBhalamu esebonile ukuthi kuyamthokozisa uThixo ukubusisa u-Israyeli, kasadinganga njalo imilingo njengakuqala, kodwa waphenduka wakhangela enkangala.
2 Kwathi uBhalamu ekhangela wabona u-Israyeli emise izihonqo zakhe ngokwezizwe zakhe, uMoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela phezu kwakhe
3 wasesitsho isambulelo sakhe:
4 isambulelo salowo ozwa amazwi kaNkulunkulu,
5 Aze aba mahle amathente akho, Oh Jakhobe,
6 Njengezigodi zisabalele,
7 Amanzi azageleza emigqonyeni yabo;
8 UNkulunkulu wabakhupha eGibhithe;
9 Njengesilwane bayaqutha bacathame phansi,
10 Ngakho uBhalaki wamthukuthelela kakhulu uBhalamu. Watshaya izandla zakhe wathi, “Ngikubizele ukuthi uzengiqalekisela izitha zami, kodwa wena usubabusise okwamahlandla la amathathu.
11 Wohle usuke nje khathesi ubuyele kini! Ngithe ngizakupha umvuzo omuhle kakhulu, pho-ke uThixo usekuvimbele ukwamukeliswa umvuzo.”
12 UBhalamu wamphendula uBhalaki wathi, “Kanti kangizitshelanga yini izithunywa zakho owazithuma kimi ukuthi,
13 ‘Loba uBhalaki enganginika isigodlo sakhe sigcwele isiliva legolide, akulalutho lolulodwa ebengizalwenza ngokwentando yami, okuhle kumbe okubi, okuphambene lomlayo kaThixo, kufanele ngitsho lokho kuphela uThixo akutshoyo na’?
14 Khathesi sengibuyela ebantwini bakithi, kodwa woza, ngikuxwayise ukuthi kuyini okuzakwenziwa ngabantu laba ebantwini bakho ensukwini ezilandelayo.”
15 Ngakho uBhalamu wasesitsho isambulelo sakhe:
16 isambulelo salowo olalela ezwe amazwi kaNkulunkulu,
17 Ngiyambona, kodwa hatshi khathesi;
18 I-Edomi izanqotshwa;
19 Umbusi uzavela kuJakhobe
20 Ngakho uBhalamu wabona u-Amaleki wasesitsho isambulelo sakhe:
21 Ngakho wasebona amaKheni wasesitsho isambulelo sakhe njalo:
22 kanti-ke lina maKheni lizabhujiswa
23 Ngakho wasitsho isambulelo sakhe:
24 Imikhumbi izakuza ivela okhunjini lwaseKhithimi;
25 Ngakho uBhalamu wasukuma wasebuyela kibo loBhalaki wahamba ngeyakhe indlela.