9. Then God came to Balaam. He asked, “So who are these men here with you?”
24-25. But as they were going through a vineyard, with a fence on either side, the donkey again saw God’s angel blocking the way and veered into the fence, crushing Balaam’s foot against the fence. Balaam hit her again.
26-27. God’s angel blocked the way yet again—a very narrow passage this time; there was no getting through on the right or left. Seeing the angel, Balaam’s donkey sat down under him. Balaam lost his temper; he beat the donkey with his stick.
28. Then God gave speech to the donkey. She said to Balaam: “What have I ever done to you that you have beat me these three times?”
29. Balaam said, “Because you’ve been playing games with me! If I had a sword I would have killed you by now.”
30. The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your trusty donkey on whom you’ve ridden for years right up until now? Have I ever done anything like this to you before? Have I?”He said, “No.”
31. Then God helped Balaam see what was going on: He saw God’s angel blocking the way, brandishing a sword. Balaam fell to the ground, his face in the dirt.