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.”
39. So Balaam went with Balak to the town of Huzoth,
40. where Balak slaughtered cattle and sheep and gave some of the meat to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.
41. Next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, from where Balaam could see a part of the people of Israel.