Ascribe to the LORD … ascribe to the LORD glory and strength: Again all the nations are called upon to praise Yahweh. The Hebrew verb translated Ascribe here and in the next verse is the imperative form of the verb meaning “to give” (so New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible). It is as though the worshipers are exhorted to bring into the Temple with them Yahweh’s glory and strength. Most English versions use the verb “ascribe” since obviously “bring” is not appropriate in this context. Since these offerings are worship and praise, Good News Translation uses the verb “Praise.” Bible en français courant has “come to honor the Lord by proclaiming his glory and his power.”

O families of the peoples: As in previous verses in this hymn, the vocative O is supplied by Revised Standard Version and not a reflection of the Hebrew, so it may be omitted as in Good News Translation. Families of the peoples is a way of speaking of humankind in terms of national or racial groups. Other translations include “you families of nations” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible), “all people on earth” (Good News Translation), and “nations of the world” (New Living Translation). In some languages it will be more natural to restructure this verse and address the hearers before exhorting them; for example, Nouvelle version Segond révisée begins with “Families of the peoples,” and Parole de Vie has “Peoples of the earth.”

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 .