Numbers 22:34

³² The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me.

³³ The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”

“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”

³⁵ But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

³⁶ When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”
KJV: And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
WEB: Balaam said to the LORD’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.”
ASV: And Balaam said unto the angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
DARBY: And Balaam said to the Angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; and now, if it be evil in thine eyes, I will get me back again.
BLB: And Balaam said to the angel of YHWH, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood against me in the road. And now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will turn back by myself.”

ÅB: Da sa Bileam til Herrens engel: Jeg har syndet, fordi jeg ikke skjønte at du sto imot meg på veien; men hvis det er deg imot, så vil jeg vende tilbake.
OTB: Bileam sa til Herrens engel: «Jeg har syndet. Jeg skjønte ikke at du sto i veien for å motsette deg meg. Hvis du er misfornøyd, vil jeg gå tilbake.»
B1930: Da sa Bileam til Herrens engel: Jeg har syndet, fordi jeg ikke skjønte at du stod imot mig på veien; men hvis det er dig imot, så vil jeg vende tilbake.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 15:24
Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
Read in context
Job 34:31–32
Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
Read in context
2 Samuel 12:13
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.
Read in context
1 Samuel 15:30
“I have sinned,” Saul replied. “Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”
Read in context
1 Samuel 26:21
Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”
Read in context
1 Chronicles 21:7
This command was also evil in the sight of God; so He struck Israel.
Read in context
Matthew 27:4–5
“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
Read in context
Exodus 10:16–17
Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you.
Read in context