26. Later, the Lord’S angel stood at another place where the road became narrow. There was no place where the donkey could go around him. It could not turn to the left or to the right.
27. The donkey saw the Lord’S angel. So the donkey lay down with Balaam sitting on top of it. Balaam was very angry at the donkey. So he hit it with his walking stick.
28. Then the Lord caused the donkey to speak. The donkey said to Balaam, “Why are you angry at me? What have I done to you? You have hit me three times!”
29. Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made me look foolish. If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”
30. But the donkey said to Balaam, “Look, I am your donkey. You have ridden me for so many years. And you know that I have never done this to you before!” “That is true,” Balaam said.
31. Then the Lord allowed Balaam to see the angel. The Lord’S angel was standing in the road, holding a sword in his hand. Balaam bowed low to the ground.
32. Then the Lord’S angel asked Balaam, “Why did you hit your donkey three times? I am the one who came to stop you. But just in time,
33. your donkey saw me and turned away from me. That happened three times. If the donkey had not turned away, I probably would have killed you already. And I would have let your donkey live.”
34. Then Balaam said to the Lord’S angel, “I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the road. If I am doing wrong, I will go back home.”
35. Then the Lord’S angel said to Balaam, “No, you can go with these men. But be careful. Speak only the words that I will tell you to say.” So Balaam went with the leaders that Balak had sent.
36. Balak heard that Balaam was coming. So Balak went out to meet him at the Moabite town near the Arnon River. This was at the northern border of his country.
37. When Balak saw Balaam, he said to him, “I asked you before to come. I told you it was very important. Why didn’t you come to me? Did you think I might not be able to pay you?”
38. Balaam answered, “Well, I am here now. I came, but I might not be able to do what you asked. I can only say the words God tells me to say.”
39. Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth.