28. Then the Lord gave the donkey the power of speech, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you? Why have you beaten me these three times?”
29. Balaam answered, “Because you have made a fool of me! If I had a sword, I would kill you.”
30. The donkey replied, “Am I not the same donkey on which you have ridden all your life? Have I ever treated you like this before?”“No,” he answered.
31. Then the Lord let Balaam see the angel standing there with his sword; and Balaam threw himself face downwards on the ground.
32. The angel demanded, “Why have you beaten your donkey three times like this? I have come to bar your way, because you should not be making this journey.
33. But your donkey saw me and turned aside three times. If it hadn't, I would have killed you and spared the donkey.”
34. Balaam replied, “I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me; but now if you think it is wrong for me to go on, I will return home.”
35. But the angel said, “Go on with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.” So Balaam went on with them.
36. When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went to meet him at Ar, a city on the River Arnon at the border of Moab.
37. Balak said to him, “Why didn't you come when I sent for you the first time? Did you think I wasn't able to reward you enough?”
38. Balaam answered, “I came, didn't I? But now, what power have I got? I can say only what God tells me to say.”