KJV ORIGINAL
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
And Balaam said to Balak, 'Look, I have come to you, but do I have any power at all to say whatever I want? I can only speak the words that God puts in my mouth.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Balaam is telling King Balak that he has no control over what he will say - he can only speak the words that God gives him to speak.
📚 Historical Context
Balak, the king of Moab, had hired the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites who were camped nearby and making him nervous. However, God had intercepted Balaam's journey and made it clear that he could only bless Israel, not curse them. This verse shows Balaam explaining to the disappointed king that he has no choice but to speak God's words, not what Balak wants to hear.
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