Numbers 22:24-37

²⁴And the angel of the Lord (again) stood in the way of the vineyards in a place where there was a fence here and a fence there.

²⁵And the ass discerned the angel of the Lord, and thrust herself to the wall, and drave Bileam’s foot against the wall; and he smote her again.

²⁶And the angel of the Lord yet passed on, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right or to the left.

²⁷And the ass discerned the angel of the Lord, and fell down under Bileam; and Bileam’s wrath was provoked, and he smote the ass with his staff.

²⁸And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass; and she spake to Bileam, What have I done to thee that thou bast smitten me these three times?

²⁹And Bileam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: would that there was a sword in my hand! For now would I kill thee.

³⁰And the ass said to Bileam, Am I not thy ass, upon whom thou hast ridden from (the time that) I have been thine unto this day? Have I ever been used to do thus to thee? And he said, No.

³¹And the Lord unveiled Bileam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword unsheathed in his hand: and he bowed, and worshipped upon his face.

³²And the angel of the Lord said to him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I have come out to withstand thee, because it is seen before me that thou art willing to go in a way contrary to me.

³³But the ass discerned me, and turned from before me these three times: unless she had turned from before me, now should I have slain thee, and her would I have spared.

³⁴And Bileam said to the angel of the Lord, I knew not that thou wast standing before me in the way. And now, if it be evil in thine eyes, I will return.

³⁵But the angel of the Lord said to Bileam, Go with the men; only the word that I shall speak with thee, that thou shalt say. And Bileam went with the princes of Balak.

³⁶And Balak heard that Bileam was coming, and went forth to meet him, at a city of Moab which is upon the border of Arnon, on the side of the frontier.

³⁷And Balak said to Bileam, Did not I sending send for thee to call thee? Why didst thou not come to me? Hast thou not indeed said that I am not able to do thee honour?