27. The donkey saw the angel of the Lord. So she lay down under Balaam. Balaam was very angry and hit her with his stick.
28. Then the Lord made the donkey talk. She said to Balaam, “What have I done to make you hit me three times?”
29. Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made me look foolish! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!”
30. But the donkey said to Balaam, “I am your very own donkey. You have ridden me for years. Have I ever done this to you before?”“No,” Balaam said.
31. Then the Lord let Balaam see the angel. The angel of the Lord was standing in the road with his sword drawn. Then Balaam bowed facedown on the ground.
32. The angel of the Lord asked Balaam, “Why have you hit your donkey three times? I have stood here to stop you. What you are doing is wrong.
33. The donkey saw me. She turned away from me three times. If she had not turned away, I would have killed you by now. But I would let her live.”
34. Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not know you were standing in the road to stop me. If I am wrong, I will go back.”