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^(A) when he went, and the angel of the Lord^(B) stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. ²³ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword^(C) in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it^(D) to get it back on the road.

²⁴ Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. ²⁵ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.

²⁶ Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. ²⁷ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry^(E) and beat it with his staff. ²⁸ Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth,^(F) and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?^(G)”

²⁹ Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.^(H)”

³⁰ The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”

“No,” he said.

³¹ Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes,^(I) and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

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,^(J) but I would have spared it.”

³⁴ Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned.^(K) I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”

⁵ but now I am going to him who sent me.^(A) None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’^{(B) 6} Rather, you are filled with grief^(C) because I have said these things. ⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate^(D) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.^{(E) 8} When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin,^(F) because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness,^(G) because I am going to the Father,^(H) where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world^(I) now stands condemned.

¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.^{(J) 13} But when he, the Spirit of truth,^(K) comes, he will guide you into all the truth.^(L) He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine.^(M) That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Thanksgiving and Prayer

¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus^(A) and your love for all God’s people,^{(B) 16} I have not stopped giving thanks for you,^(C) remembering you in my prayers.^{(D) 17} I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^(E) may give you the Spirit^[a] of wisdom^(F) and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened^(G) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called^(H) you, the riches^(I) of his glorious inheritance^(J) in his holy people,^{(K) 19} and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power^(L) is the same as the mighty strength^{(M) 20} he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead^(N) and seated him at his right hand^(O) in the heavenly realms,^{(P) 21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,^(Q) and every name^(R) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.^{(S) 22} And God placed all things under his feet^(T) and appointed him to be head^(U) over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body,^(V) the fullness of him^(W) who fills everything in every way.^(X)