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