But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?

And he said: Did I not tell thee, that whatsoever God should command me, that I would do?

And Balaam answered and said to Balak, Did I not tell thee, saying, All that Jehovah shall speak, that will I do?

But Balaam answered and said to Balak, Did I not tell thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?

and Balaam answereth and saith unto Balak, 'Have I not spoken unto thee, saying, All that Jehovah speaketh, it I do?'

But Balaam answered and said to Balak, Told not I you, saying, All that the LORD speaks, that I must do?

But Balaam in answer said to Balak, Did I not say to you, I may only do what the Lord says?

And he said, "Have I not told you that whatever God would command of me, I would do?"

Cui respondit Balaam, dicens; Annon dixi tibi, quicquid dixerit Jehova id faciam?

But Balaam answered and said. The mercenary prophet here confesses that he has no more power of himself to be silent than to speak. Nor is there any doubt but that he would excuse himself with servility to the proud king, to whom he would willingly have sold himself; as if, in his desire to avert the odium and blame from himself, he would state that he was carried away against his will by the Divine afflatus. At the same time he throws back the blame on Balak himself, who, though warned in time, had still foolishly sent to fetch him. The rest I have already expounded.

But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, told not I thee,.... He appeals to him for his honesty and faithfulness, for honest and faithful he would be thought to be, both to God and man; that when he first met him, he plainly told him what he must expect: from him:
saying, all that the Lord speaketh, that I must do; which was very true, he was obliged to do as he had bid him, and speak what he had said unto him, though it was sore against his will; he would fain both have spoken and done otherwise, if he might have been permitted.

All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do--a remarkable confession that he was divinely constrained to give utterances different from what it was his purpose and inclination to do.