²⁰ That night God came to Balaam^(A) and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”^(B)

Balaam’s Donkey

²¹ Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. ²² But God was very angry^(C) when he went, and the angel of the Lord^(D) stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

³² The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.^{[a] 33} The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now,^(A) but I would have spared it.”