Numbers 22:27-33

New International Version

²⁷ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry^(A) and beat it with his staff. ²⁸ Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth,^(B) and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?^(C)”

²⁹ Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.^(D)”

³⁰ The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”

“No,” he said.

³¹ Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes,^(E) and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

³² The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.^{[a] 33} The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now,^(F) but I would have spared it.”