And David said to God: Good News Translation and Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje render said as “prayed,” and make the name of God the first element in the prayer itself within the quotation marks. This may be a helpful model for other languages.

Was it not I who gave command to number the people?: David’s first question is rhetorical and may be turned into a statement (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). The Hebrew word translated gave command is literally “said.” But its sense in this context is certainly “gave the order” (New Century Version, Revised English Bible) or “called for” (New Living Translation). As in earlier verses in this chapter, the people may be translated “the army” ( NET Bible).

It is I who have sinned and done very wickedly: Done very wickedly is literally “to do evil I did evil.” In Hebrew an infinitive is followed by a finite form of the same verb here. This is done to intensify or reinforce what is said. Revised Standard Version uses the adverb very to express the emphasis. The Hebrew verb in this expression is the same one rendered “was displeased” in verse 7 (see the comments there). Following the Septuagint and a Qumran manuscript of the parallel text in 2 Sam 24.17, Revised English Bible corrects this whole sentence to read “It is I who have sinned, I, the shepherd, who have committed the wrong.” Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente also follows this reading, saying “I alone have done wrong: the shepherd has sinned.” The Hebrew words for “the shepherd” and “the evildoer” are quite similar in spelling. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia suggests that the Hebrew text here should be corrected to read “the shepherd,” but Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives an {A} rating to the Masoretic Text.

But these sheep, what have they done?: The Old Testament often compares leaders and their people to shepherds and flocks of sheep (see 1 Chr 11.2). In referring to these sheep, David is comparing the people of Israel to sheep rather than talking about literal sheep. In some languages it will be more acceptable to say “these people who are like my sheep.” Some translations do not keep the imagery, saying instead “these poor people” (Good News Translation, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje) or “these innocent people” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). The rhetorical question what have they done? is really a way of saying “they have done nothing to deserve this punishment.” In some languages it will be better to translate it in this way or, retaining the question form, to say “they have done nothing wrong, have they?”

Let thy hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be against me and against my father’s house: Revised Standard Version uses the archaic pronouns thy and thee in keeping with its custom in prayers to God. But these forms do not reflect any difference in the Hebrew and are dropped by New Revised Standard Version and other modern versions. Again the word hand refers to the exercise of power. Perhaps a more meaningful way of translating Let thy hand … be against me … is “use your power to punish me…” (similarly Good News Translation, Bible en français courant) or simply “strike me…” (New American Bible). I pray thee renders the Hebrew particle of entreaty, which is sometimes translated “please” or “I pray.” Good News Translation omits this particle, but translators should express it. However, the position of this expression in the sentence will vary from language to language. My father’s house is a way of referring to David’s immediate family. Several modern versions say simply “my family” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). New American Bible has “my father’s family.”

But let not the plague be upon thy people is the reading of the Masoretic Text. Some scholars suggest that the words in the Hebrew text should be divided differently, as in the ancient Syriac. This different word division is the basis for the Revised English Bible rendering “but check this plague on the people.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text, but the meaning is nearly the same regardless of which reading is followed.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .