18
But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "Although Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God, to do less or more.
19
You remain here, as the others did, so that I may learn what more the Lord may say to me."
20
That night God came to Balaam and said to him, "If the men have come to summon you, get up and go with them; but do only what I tell you to do."
21
So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the officials of Moab.
22
God's anger was kindled because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the road as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23
The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand; so the donkey turned off the road, and went into the field; and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn it back onto the road.
24
Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.
25
When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it scraped against the wall, and scraped Balaam's foot against the wall; so he struck it again.
26
Then the angel of the Lord went ahead, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.
27
When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28
Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"