Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision 1752

Numbers 22:27-40 Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision 1752 (DRC1752)

27. And when the ass saw the angel standing, she fell under the feet of the rider: who being angry beat her sides more vehemently with a staff.

28. And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said: What have I done to thee? Why strikest thou me, lo, now this third time?

29. Balaam answered: Because thou hast deserved it, and hast served me ill: I would I had a sword that I might kill thee.

30. The ass said: Am not I thy beast, on which thou hast been always accustomed to ride until this present day? tell me if I ever did the like thing to thee. But he said: Never.

31. Forthwith the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he worshipped him falling flat on the ground.

32. And the angel said to him: Why beatest thou thy ass these three times? I am come to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse, and contrary to me:

33. And unless the ass had turned out of the way, giving place to me who stood against thee, I had slain thee, and she should have lived.

34. Balaam said: I have sinned, not knowing that thou didst stand against me: and now if it displease thee that I go, I will return.

35. The angel said: Go with these men, and see thou speak no other thing than what I shall command thee. He went therefore with the princes.

36. And when Balac heard it he came forth to meet him in a town of the Moabites, that is situate in the uttermost borders of Arnon.

37. And he said to Balaam: I sent messengers to call thee, why didst thou not come immediately to me? was it because I am not able to reward thy coming?

38. He answered him: Lo, here I am: shall I have power to speak any other thing but that which God shall put in my mouth?

39. So they went on together, and came into a city, that was in the uttermost borders of his kingdom.

40. And when Balac had killed oxen and sheep, he sent presents to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.