How ¹  can I curse ²  one whom God has not cursed, or how can I denounce one whom the Lord has not denounced?

‘How ¹  beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, and your dwelling places, O Israel!

So Moses said to them, “Remain ¹  here and I will hear ²  what the Lord will command concerning you.”

But Moses said, “Why ¹  are you now transgressing the commandment ²  of the Lord? It will not succeed!

They put him in custody, because there was no clear instruction about what should be done to him.

Why ¹  have you brought up the Lord’s community into this wilderness? So that ²  we and our cattle should die here?

Nevertheless the Kenite will be consumed. ¹  How long will Asshur take you away captive?”

And Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you afflicted ¹  your servant? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that ²  you lay the burden of this entire people on me?

and whether the land they live in is good or bad, and whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or fortified cities,

and see ¹  what the land is like, ²  and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, few or many,

Why has the Lord brought us into this land only to be killed by the sword, that our wives and our children should become plunder? Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”

Therefore you and all your company have assembled together against the Lord! And Aaron – what is he that you murmur against him?” ¹ 

Why ¹  have you brought us up from Egypt only to bring us to ²  this dreadful place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink!”

And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no bread or water, and we ¹  detest this worthless ²  food.”

Now therefore, please stay ¹  the night here also, that I may know what more the Lord might say to me.” ² 

Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”

Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send again and again ¹  to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?” ² 

Balaam said to Balak, “Station yourself ¹  by your burnt offering, and I will go off; perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever he reveals to me ²  I will tell you.” ³  Then he went to a deserted height. ⁴ 

Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but on the contrary ¹  you have only blessed them!” ² 

When Balaam ¹  came to him, he was still standing by his burnt offering, along with the princes of Moab. And Balak said to him, “What has the Lord spoken?”