³¹ Then the Lord ^(A)opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. ³² And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out ^[a]to stand against you, because your way is ^(B)perverse^[b] before Me. ³³ The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”

³⁴ And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, ^(C)“I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it ^[c]displeases You, I will turn back.”

³⁵ Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, ^(D)but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.