Numbers 22:27   (Read all of Numbers 22)

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff.

Numbers 22:28   (Read all of Numbers 22)

Then the Lord opened the donkey's mouth, and it said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"

Numbers 22:29   (Read all of Numbers 22)

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."

Numbers 22:30   (Read all of Numbers 22)

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.

Numbers 22:31   (Read all of Numbers 22)

Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

Numbers 22:33   (Read all of Numbers 22)

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, but I would have spared it."

Numbers 22:34   (Read all of Numbers 22)

Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back."

Numbers 22:35   (Read all of Numbers 22)

The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you." So Balaam went with Balak's officials.

Numbers 22:37   (Read all of Numbers 22)

Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?"

Numbers 22:38   (Read all of Numbers 22)

"Well, I have come to you now," Balaam replied. "But I can't say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth."

Numbers 22:40   (Read all of Numbers 22)

Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the officials who were with him.

Numbers 22:41   (Read all of Numbers 22)

The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he could see the outskirts of the Israelite camp.

Numbers 23:1   (Read all of Numbers 23)

Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."

Numbers 23:2   (Read all of Numbers 23)

Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Numbers 23:3   (Read all of Numbers 23)

Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you." Then he went off to a barren height.

Numbers 23:4   (Read all of Numbers 23)

God met with him, and Balaam said, "I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram."

Numbers 23:5   (Read all of Numbers 23)

The Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and give him this word."

Numbers 23:6   (Read all of Numbers 23)

So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials.

Numbers 23:7   (Read all of Numbers 23)

Then Balaam spoke his message: "Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains. 'Come,' he said, 'curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.'

Numbers 23:9   (Read all of Numbers 23)

From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations.

Numbers 23:11   (Read all of Numbers 23)

Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!"

Numbers 23:12   (Read all of Numbers 23)

He answered, "Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?"

Numbers 23:13   (Read all of Numbers 23)

Then Balak said to him, "Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me."

Numbers 23:14   (Read all of Numbers 23)

So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.