When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she crouched down under Balaam. Then Balaam was angry, and he beat his donkey with a staff.

And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”

So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks toward the wilderness. ¹ 

Balaam got up and departed and returned to his home, ¹  and Balak also went his way.

So Balak did just as Balaam had said. Balak and Balaam then offered on each ¹  altar a bull and a ram.

Then God met Balaam, who ¹  said to him, “I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.”

Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent a message to me, saying,

So the princes of Moab departed ¹  and went back to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

And Balak sacrificed bulls and sheep, and sent some ¹  to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.

Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all ¹  nor bless them at all!” ² 

Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also tell your messengers whom you sent to me,

The Israelites killed Balaam son of Beor, the omen reader, ¹  along with the others. ² 

But the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you may only speak ¹  the word that I will speak to you.” ²  So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together. ¹  Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless ²  them these three times!

So Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Then he uttered this oracle: ¹  “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;

But God said to Balaam, “You must not go with them; you must not curse the people, ¹  for they are blessed.” ² 

And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Please do not let anything hinder you from coming ¹  to me.