Numbers 22:23-30

New International Version

²³ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword^(A) in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it^(B) to get it back on the road.

²⁴ Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. ²⁵ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.

²⁶ Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. ²⁷ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry^(C) and beat it with his staff. ²⁸ Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth,^(D) and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?^(E)”

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.^(F)”

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.