26. and the messenger of Jehovah addeth to pass over, and standeth in a strait place where there is no way to turn aside--right or left--
27. and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah, and croucheth under Balaam, and the anger of Balaam burneth, and he smiteth the ass with a staff.
28. And Jehovah openeth the mouth of the ass, and she saith to Balaam, `What have I done to thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?'
29. and Balaam saith to the ass, `Because thou hast rolled thyself against me; oh that there were a sword in my hand, for now I had slain thee;'
30. and the ass saith unto Balaam, `Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden since [I was] thine unto this day? have I at all been accustomed to do to thee thus?' and he saith, `No.'
31. And Jehovah uncovereth the eyes of Balaam, and he seeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and he boweth and doth obeisance, to his face;
32. and the messenger of Jehovah saith unto him, `Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? lo, I--I have come out for an adversary, for [thy] way hath been perverse before me,
33. and the ass seeth me, and turneth aside at my presence these three times; unless she had turned aside from my presence, surely now also, thee I had slain, and her kept alive.'
34. And Balaam saith unto the messenger of Jehovah, `I have sinned, for I did not know that thou [art] standing to meet me in the way; and now, if evil in thine eyes--I turn back by myself.'
35. And the messenger of Jehovah saith unto Balaam, `Go with the men; and only the word which I speak unto thee--it thou dost speak;' and Balaam goeth with the princes of Balak.
36. And Balak heareth that Balaam hath come, and goeth out to meet him, unto a city of Moab, which [is] on the border of Arnon, which [is] in the extremity of the border;
37. and Balak saith unto Balaam, `Did I not diligently sent unto thee to call for thee? why didst thou not come unto me? am I not truly able to honour thee?'
38. And Balaam saith unto Balak, `Lo, I have come unto thee; now--am I at all able to speak anything? the word which God setteth in my mouth--it I do speak.'
39. And Balaam goeth with Balak, and they come to Kirjath-Huzoth,
40. and Balak sacrificeth oxen and sheep, and sendeth to Balaam, and to the princes who [are] with him;
41. and it cometh to pass in the morning, that Balak taketh Balaam, and causeth him to go up the high places of Baal, and he seeth from thence the extremity of the people.