28. Then the Lord made the donkey talk, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to make you hit me three times?”
29. Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made me look foolish! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!”
30. But the donkey said to Balaam, “I am your very own donkey, which you have ridden for years. Have I ever done this to you before?”“No,” Balaam said.
31. Then the Lord let Balaam see the angel of the Lord, who was standing in the road with his sword drawn. Then Balaam bowed facedown on the ground.
32. The angel of the Lord asked Balaam, “Why have you hit your donkey three times? I have stood here to stop you, because what you are doing is wrong.
33. The donkey saw me and turned away from me three times. If she had not turned away, I would have killed you by now, but I would have let her live.”
34. Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned; I did not know you were standing in the road to stop me. If I am wrong, I will go back.”
35. The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with these men, but say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s leaders.
36. When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at Ar in Moab, which was beside the Arnon, at the edge of his country.
37. Balak said to Balaam, “I had asked you before to come quickly. Why didn’t you come to me? I am able to reward you well.”
38. But Balaam answered, “I have come to you now, but I can’t say just anything. I can only say what God tells me to say.”
39. Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth.