Numbers 22:21-35 ▼

21 Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

22 God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of God placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23 The donkey saw the angel of God standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way.

24 Then the angel of God stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

25 The donkey saw the angel of God, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he struck her again.

26 The angel of God went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

27 The donkey saw the angel of God, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

28 And God 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?|

29 Balaam said to the donkey, |Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.|

30 The donkey said to Balaam, |Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?| He said, |No.|

31 Then God opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of God standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.

32 The angel of God said to him, |Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I have come forth as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me:

33 and the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.|

34 Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, |I have sinned; for I did not know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.|

35 The angel of God said to Balaam, |Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak.| So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.