Numbers. Asina Balaam.
Douay-Rheims translation
22:21 Balaam arose in the morning, and saddling his ass went with them.
22:22 And God was angry. And an angel of the Lord stood in the way against
Balaam, who sat on the ass, and had two servants with him.
22:23 The ass seeing the angel standing in the way, with a drawn sword, turned
herself out of the way, and went into the field. And when Balaam beat her,
and had a mind to bring her again to the way,
22:24 The angel stood in a narrow place between two walls, wherewith the vineyards
were enclosed.
22:25 And the ass seeing him, thrust herself close to the wall, and bruised
the foot of the rider. But he beat her again:
22:26 And nevertheless the angel going on to a narrow place, where there was
no way to turn aside either to the right hand or to the left, stood to meet
him.
22:27 And when the ass saw the angel standing, she fell under the feet of
the rider: who being angry beat her sides more vehemently with a staff.
22:28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said: What have I
done to thee? Why strikest thou me, lo, now this third time?
22:29 Balaam answered: Because thou hast deserved it, and hast served me ill:
I would I had a sword that I might kill thee.
22:30 The ass said: Am not I thy beast, on which thou hast been always accustomed
to ride until this present day? tell me if I ever did the like thing to thee.
But he said: Never.
22:31 Forthwith the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel standing
in the way with a drawn sword, and he worshipped him falling flat on the ground.
22:32 And the angel said to him: Why beatest thou thy ass these three times?
I am come to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse, and contrary to
me:
22:33 And unless the ass had turned out of the way, giving place to me who
stood against thee, I had slain thee, and she should have lived.
22:34 Balaam said: I have sinned, not knowing that thou didst stand against
me: and now if it displease thee that I go, I will return.