16. And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak son of Zippor, I beg of you, let nothing hinder you from coming to me.
17. For I will promote you to very great honor and I will do whatever you tell me; so come, I beg of you, curse this people for me.
18. And Balaam answered 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 less or more.
19. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry here again tonight that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.
20. And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men come to call you, rise up and go with them, but still only what I tell you may you do.
21. And Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
22. And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the Angel of the Lord stood in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23. And the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way and His sword drawn in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to turn her into the way.
24. But the Angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall on this side and a wall on that side.
25. And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she thrust herself against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against it, and he struck her again.
26. And the Angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right hand or to the left.
27. And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam, and Balaam's anger was kindled and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28. And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you should strike me these three times?