The wind howls at them as they run, frightening them with destructive power.

"Now, mortal man, prophesy. Clap your hands, and the sword will strike again and again. It is a sword that kills, a sword that terrifies and slaughters.

I also will clap my hands, and my anger will be over. I, the LORD, have spoken."

"I will bring my fist down on your robberies and murders.

They outnumber us, so please come and put a curse on them for me. Then perhaps we will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. I know that when you pronounce a blessing, people are blessed, and when you pronounce a curse, they are placed under a curse."

that a people who came from Egypt has spread out over the whole land. He wants me to curse them for him, so that he can fight them and drive them out."

I will reward you richly and do anything you say. Please come and curse these people for me."

Then Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, but all you have done is bless them."

They refused to provide you with food and water when you were on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor, from the city of Pethor in Mesopotamia, to curse you.

But the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam; instead he turned the curse into a blessing, because he loved you.

Then the king of Moab, Balak son of Zippor, fought against you. He sent word to Balaam son of Beor and asked him to put a curse on you.

But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you, and in this way I rescued you from Balak.

This was because the people of Ammon and Moab did not give food and water to the Israelites on their way out of Egypt. Instead, they paid money to Balaam to curse Israel, but our God turned the curse into a blessing.