Numbers 22:26-37

²⁶Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to get past, either on the right or the left.

²⁷The donkey saw the angel of the Lord and lay down under Balaam. He got angry and beat it with his walking stick.

²⁸The Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you for you to beat me three times?”

²⁹“You made me look stupid!” Balaam told the donkey. “If I was holding a sword, I'd kill you now!”

³⁰But the donkey asked Balaam, “Aren't I the donkey you've ridden all your life right up to today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he admitted.

³¹Then the Lord gave Balaam the ability to see the angel of the Lord standing in the road holding a drawn sword. Balaam bowed low and fell facedown on the ground.

³²The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why did you beat your donkey three times? Listen, I have come to confront you because you're being obstinate.

³³The donkey saw me and avoided me three times. If it had not avoided me, by now I definitely would have killed you and allowed the donkey to live.”

³⁴“I have sinned because I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me,” Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “So if this isn't what you want, I'll go back home.”

³⁵The angel of the Lord told Balaam, “No, you can go with the men, but only say what I tell you.” So Balaam continued on with Balak's officials.

³⁶When Balak found out that Balaam was on his way, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the border at the Arnon River, the farthest point of his territory.

³⁷He said to Balaam, “Didn't you think my call for you to come was urgent? Why didn't you come to me straight away? Did you think I couldn't pay you enough?”