Numbers 22:21-35

211So Balaam arose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the leaders of Moab. 22But God was angry that he was going, 2and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the road as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, the donkey turned off from the road and went into the field; and Balaam struck the donkey to guide her back onto the road. 24Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a stone wall on this side and on that side. 25When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed herself against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall, so he struck her again. 26Then the angel of the Lord went farther, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right or to the left. 27When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so 3Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his staff. 28Then 4the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29And Balaam said to the donkey, “It is because you have made a mockery of me! If only there had been a sword in my hand! For 5I would have killed you by now!” 30But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been in the habit of doing such a thing to you?” And he said, “No.”

31Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw 6the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed 7all the way to the ground. 32Then the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was 8reckless and contrary to me. 33But the donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I certainly would have killed you just now, and let her live.” 34So Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “9I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.” 35But the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but 10you shall speak only the word that I 11tell you.” So Balaam went along with the representatives of Balak.