But Balaam answered, "Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not disobey the command of the LORD my God in even the smallest matter.

That night God came to Balaam and said, "If these men have come to ask you to go with them, get ready and go, but do only what I tell you."

He answered, "I can say only what the LORD tells me to say."

Balaam answered, "Didn't I tell you that I had to do everything that the LORD told me?"

even if you gave me all the silver and gold in your palace, I could not disobey the command of the LORD by doing anything of myself. I will say only what the LORD tells me to say."

But Micaiah answered, "By the living LORD I promise that I will say what he tells me to!"

The prophet who has had a dream should say it is only a dream, but the prophet who has heard my message should proclaim that message faithfully. What good is straw compared with wheat?

I answered, "Very well, then. I will pray to the LORD our God, just as you have asked, and whatever he says, I will tell you. I will not keep back anything from you."

You will tell them whatever I tell you to say, whether they listen or not. Remember what rebels they are.

The people preach at me and say, "Don't preach at us. Don't preach about all that. God is not going to disgrace us.

Do you think the people of Israel are under a curse? Has the LORD lost his patience? Would he really do such things? Doesn't he speak kindly to those who do right?"

For I have not held back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God.

For I received from the Lord the teaching that I passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread,

We are not like so many others, who handle God's message as if it were cheap merchandise; but because God has sent us, we speak with sincerity in his presence, as servants of Christ.

Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God's approval! Am I trying to be popular with people? If I were still trying to do so, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Instead, we always speak as God wants us to, because he has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the Good News. We do not try to please people, but to please God, who tests our motives.