Numbers 23:12 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

And he answered and said, 'Must I not be careful to speak only what the LORD has put in my mouth?'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Balaam is saying he can only speak the words that God gives him to say, not what people want to hear.

📚 Historical Context

This is Balaam's response to King Balak, who had hired him to curse the Israelites but was frustrated that Balaam kept blessing them instead. Balaam, though a pagan prophet, recognized that he was bound to speak only what God commanded him to say, regardless of what his employer wanted.

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Proverbs 15:28

A good person's heart carefully thinks before speaking, but a wicked person's mouth pours out evil words.

2 Kings 4:13

And he said to him, 'Now say to her: Look, you have taken such good care of us with all this attention. What can we do for you? Would you like me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?' And she answered, 'I live peacefully among my own people.'

Isaiah 65:24

And this is what will happen: before they even call out to me, I will answer them; and while they are still speaking, I will already be listening.

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