26. The Lord’s messenger persisted and crossed over and stood in a narrow place, where it wasn’t possible to turn either right or left.
27. The donkey saw the Lord’s messenger and lay down underneath Balaam. Balaam became angry and beat the donkey with the rod.
28. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth and it said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that you’ve beaten me these three times?"
29. Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you’ve tormented me. If I had a sword in my hand, I’d kill you now."
30. The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, on whom you’ve often ridden to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?"Balaam said, "No."
31. Then the Lord uncovered Balaam’s eyes, and Balaam saw the Lord’s messenger standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand. Then he bowed low and worshipped.
32. The Lord’s messenger said to him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I’ve come out here as an adversary, because you took the road recklessly in front of me.
33. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it hadn’t turned away from me, I would just now have killed you and let it live."
34. Balaam said to the Lord’s messenger, "I’ve sinned, because I didn’t know that you were standing against me in the road. Now, if you think it’s wrong, I’ll go back."
35. The Lord’s messenger said to Balaam, "Go with the men. But don’t say anything. Say only that which I tell you." So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.
36. When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at Ir-moab, which is on the border of the Arnon at the farthest point of the border.
37. Balak said to Balaam, "Didn’t I send urgently and summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to honor you?"
38. Balaam said to Balak, "I’ve now come to you. But I’m only able to speak whatever word God gives me to say. That is what I will speak."
39. Then Balaam went with Balak and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.