Numbers 22:7-28
English Standard Version
Chapter 22
7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak 's message. 8And he said to them, "Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me." So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9And God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?" 10And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’" 12God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." 13So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you." 14So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."
15Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.
16And they came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’"
18But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though 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.
19So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me."
20And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you."
21So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
22But God 's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.
24Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.
25And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam 's foot against the wall. So he struck her again.
26Then 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.
27When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam 's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"
