32. “Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me.
33. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.”
34. Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the lord, “I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.”
35. But the angel of the lord told Balaam, “Go with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.” So Balaam went on with Balak’s officials.
36. When King Balak heard that Balaam was on the way, he went out to meet him at a Moabite town on the Arnon River at the farthest border of his land.
37. “Didn’t I send you an urgent invitation? Why didn’t you come right away?” Balak asked Balaam. “Didn’t you believe me when I said I would reward you richly?”
38. Balaam replied, “Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth.”
39. Then Balaam accompanied Balak to Kiriath-huzoth,
40. where the king sacrificed cattle and sheep. He sent portions of the meat to Balaam and the officials who were with him.
41. The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see some of the people of Israel spread out below him.