And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD: See the comments on 2 Chr 14.2. New Century Version says “Amaziah did what the LORD said was right.”

Yet not with a blameless heart: This clause indicates that Amaziah had some mental reservations about doing what was pleasing to the LORD. More literally the Hebrew says “yet not with a complete heart [or, an undivided heart]” (see the comments on 2 Chr 15.17). In Hebrew thought the heart was the center of thought and decisions, not of emotions and feelings. Moffatt correctly translates the Hebrew as “but not with an undivided mind.” Other possible renderings are “But he did not really want to obey the Lord” (International Children’s Bible), “but not with full obedience” (Knox), and “but without great enthusiasm” (Bible en français courant). New International Version attempts to retain some of the imagery by translating “but not wholeheartedly.”

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 .