Then David said to Gad: In this context the verb said is better translated “replied” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje).

I am in great distress is more literally “I am very cramped.” King James Version translates “I am in a great strait” (similarly New American Bible). The meaning is very similar to the English idioms “I am in a tight spot,” “I am in a bind,” or “I am between a rock and a hard place.” Nueva Versión Internacional uses the Spanish idiom “I am between the sword and the wall.” Knox attempts to convey this idea with “I am hard pressed on all sides,” and Moffatt says “I am in a terrible difficulty.” Revised English Bible translates “This is a desperate plight I am in.” Several versions focus on the result of being in such a difficult position: “I am very apprehensive” (New Jerusalem Bible) and “I am in very great anxiety” (American Bible). Instead of making this clause a part of a direct quotation from David, Contemporary English Version places it within the quote frame by beginning with “David was miserable and said….” The Message makes very explicit what is only implied in the text concerning the three alternatives presented, saying “They’re all terrible!”

Let me fall into the hand of the LORD … but let me not fall into the hand of man: The Hebrew expressions here use verb forms that show David is expressing his decision in the face of the choices presented to him. He does not specifically state which of the three alternatives he prefers. Instead he says simply that his preference is to be punished by God rather than by human beings. Although the second option (running away from enemy forces) may be thought to be human punishment, clearly the first (famine) and third (pestilence) were seen as being of divine origin. The context indicates that it is indeed the third punishment that actually occurred. The idea of a wish expressed in English by the verb let may have to be stated differently in other languages. Some may say “I want to fall … I don’t want to fall….” Bible en français courant has “I prefer….” The image of the hand may not be appropriate in some languages. As in other contexts, this refers to the power of God and the power of human beings. Some interpreters have understood this whole statement to mean that David decided to leave it up to the LORD to decide which of the three alternatives to set in motion. But the meaning is more likely that David would rather trust himself to be punished by a merciful God than to trust himself to be punished by human beings. Like Good News Translation, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje expresses these two clauses as “but I don’t want to be punished by people. Let the LORD himself punish me.” Since the contrast is between God and human beings and not between God and men, Good News Translation correctly says “people” instead of man. Compare also “human beings” (New Century Version; similarly New Revised Standard Version, Klein) and “human enemies” (New Jerusalem Bible).

For his mercy is very great gives the reason why David prefers to be punished by God rather than by human beings. The Hebrew noun translated mercy is related to the word for “womb” and suggests a very deep level of compassion. For this whole clause New Century Version has “because the LORD is very merciful.”

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 .