Numbers 22:2-26

²And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

³And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moab was overcome with dread because of the children of Israel.

⁴And Moab said unto the elders of Midian: 'Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field.' — And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. —

⁵And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying: 'Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me.

⁶Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me; peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.'

⁷And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spoke unto him the words of Balak.

⁸And he said unto them: 'Lodge here this night, and I will bring you back word, as the LORD may speak unto me'; and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

⁹And God came unto Balaam, and said: 'What men are these with thee?'

¹⁰And Balaam said unto God: 'Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me saying:

¹¹Behold the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth; now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.'

¹²And God said unto Balaam: 'Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.'

¹³And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak: 'Get you into your land; for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.'

¹⁴And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said: 'Balaam refuseth to come with us.'

¹⁵And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.

¹⁶And they came to Balaam, and said to him: 'Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor: Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me;

¹⁷for I will promote thee unto very great honour, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do; come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.'

¹⁸And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak: 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do any thing, small or great.

¹⁹Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will speak unto me more.'

²⁰And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him: 'If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.'

²¹And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.

²²And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the LORD placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. — Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. —

²³And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field; and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

²⁴Then the angel of the LORD stood in a hollow way between the vineyards, a fence being on this side, and a fence on that side.

²⁵And the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again.

²⁶And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.