Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD: The generic verb said may be rendered “replied” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) or “confessed” (New Living Translation) in this context.

I have sinned: Revised English Bible says “I have done wrong,” which is too weak an expression in English. The Hebrew verb here is chataʾ, which is not the usual verb meaning “err unintentionally” (shagah) as some translations seem to suggest by saying “I erred” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “I have made a mistake” (Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie). There is no reason why this instance of the verb chataʾ should be translated differently than elsewhere (see 14.40; 21.7). Whether Balaam is sincere is another question. If his confession is considered sincere, then this would imply that his attitude has changed and that he should be evaluated positively. On the other hand, considering Balaam’s situation and whom he is presently speaking to, this could easily be understood as a confession of convenience.

For I did not know that thou didst stand in the road against me is literally “for I did not know that you were standing on the road to meet [confront] me.” Compare verses 22-23. The Hebrew particle ki rendered for is a logical connector here. Good News Translation leaves it implied, but many languages will keep it.

Now therefore, if it is evil in thy sight, I will go back again: The Hebrew expression rendered Now therefore (weʿattah) is literally “And now.” Here it marks a development in the text from the confession to the actual request or conclusion (compare verse 6). NET Bible expresses this transitional expression more clearly with “So now.” The literal clause if it is evil in thy sight does not fit this context well in English. Good News Translation is better with “if you think it is wrong for me to go on.” New Living Translation says “if you are against my going,” which is rather weak in comparison with the Hebrew expression here. I will go back again is literally “I will return for myself,” which may be rendered simply “I will return home” (Good News Translation).

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .