Balaam And The Angel
AND Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
And God was angry because he went.
So the angel of the Lord stood in the way to oppose him.
Now Balaam was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him,
and the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand.
So the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field.
Balaam beat the donkey, to turn her back on to the path.
But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on both sides.
When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against a wall
and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall.
So Balaam beat the donkey again.
The angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the
right or to the left.
And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam.
Balaam was still more angry, and he beat the donkey with a staff.
Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam:
"What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?"
Balaam said to the donkey:"because you have mocked me. I wish there were a sword in my hand,
for now I would kill you."
Then the donkey said to Balaam:" am I not your donkey,
upon which you have ridden ever since I became yours? Have I ever treated you so before?"
"No," said Balaam.
So God opened Balaam's eyes and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way,
with his sword drawn in his hand.
And he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.
And the angel of the Lord said to him:"Why have you beaten your donkey these three times?
I went out to oppose you because your way is against me.
The donkey saw me and turned from me these three times.
If she had not turned from me, I would surely have killed you, and saved her life."
Balaam said to the angel of the Lord: "I have sinned,
for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me.
So now, if it displeases you, I will not go on."
But the angel of the Lord said to Balaam: "Go with the men,
but you shall speak only the words that I tell you."
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