Honor and majesty are before him: Yahweh as king possesses Honor and majesty, the two greatest attributes of a king. Before him may be translated “surround him” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation). Another possible translation of this whole line is “He radiates greatness and majesty” (Bible en français courant). Revised English Bible says “Majesty and splendour attend him,” using the verb “attend” to represent majesty and splendor as royal servants that wait on Yahweh.

Strength and joy are in his place: A literal rendering of the words his place may fail to express the intended meaning. The parallel text in Psa 96.6 reads “his sanctuary,” which New Jerusalem Bible also uses here. New American Bible says “his holy place,” and Good News Translation has “his Temple.”

The major translation problem in this verse is the handling of the abstract nouns Honor, majesty, strength and joy as though they were objects. In languages that permit passive expressions, it is possible to say “Glory and majesty can be seen around him; his power and joy can be observed in his Temple.” Where the passive is not possible, a possible model is “People in his presence can see how great and like a king he is; the things in his Temple remind people that he is strong and causes joy.”

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 .