The LORD met Balaam, told him what to say, and sent him back to Balak to give him his message.

God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these people that are staying with you?"

That night God came to Balaam and said, "If these men have come to ask you to go with them, get ready and go, but do only what I tell you."

He said to Balak, "Build seven altars here for me, and bring me seven bulls and seven rams."

The people ask, "Why should we fast if the LORD never notices? Why should we go without food if he pays no attention?" The LORD says to them, "The truth is that at the same time you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers.

Your fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight. Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers?

'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'while we put up with a whole day's work in the hot sun---yet you paid them the same as you paid us!'

I fast two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all my income.'

You will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time will come when those who kill you will think that by doing this they are serving God.

What, then, can we boast about? Nothing! And what is the reason for this? Is it that we obey the Law? No, but that we believe.

(SEE 2:8)