This verse continues and completes the direct quotation of what the LORD said to David.

I will establish his kingdom for ever: See the comments on 1 Chr 17.11.

If he continues resolute in keeping my commandments and my ordinances: The Hebrew verb rendered continues resolute often means “to be strong” or “to have courage.” Here its sense is “perseveres” (New American Bible) or “continues” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation). The Hebrew noun translated ordinances has a wide range of meanings, including “customs,” “commands,” and “judgments” (see the comments on 1 Chr 22.13). Here it is synonymous with commandments. It may be possible to find a different word in the receptor language for each of these nouns, but it is not necessary to do so since a clear distinction does not seem intended.

As he is today is literally “as today.” Revised Standard Version inserts the pronoun he. Good News Translation and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh also do this by saying “as he does now.” But it is also possible to understand the sense of this clause to be “as you [David] do today.” Compare NET Bible, which has “as you are doing this day.”

In some languages the conditional clause will have to come before the main clause. New Century Version does this by rendering the whole verse as “He is obeying my laws and commands now. If he continues to obey them, I will make his kingdom strong forever.”

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 .