And he went out to meet Asa: Based on the context, the common Hebrew conjunction rendered and may be translated in such a way as to show the immediacy of Azariah’s action. Contemporary English Version has “At once.” Other possible connectors are “Then” and “So.” Since the pronoun he could refer to Oded or even to God’s spirit, New Century Version and God’s Word say “Azariah” for clarity. He went out to meet Asa is literally “he went out before Asa,” but the Hebrew here does not mean that Azariah had been inside and went outside. The word out is left implied in a number of modern versions (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, God’s Word).

And said to him: Azariah’s speech to King Asa begins here and continues through verse 7.

Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The imperative Hear me may be considered arrogant or disdainful in some languages and might be an inappropriate thing for a person to say to a group that included a king. However, in Hebrew it is simply a way of getting the attention of the hearers. It is in fact a plural form showing that Azariah is attempting to get the attention not only of Asa but of all the people of Judah and Benjamin. If a literal rendering sounds too harsh in the receptor language, it may be necessary to soften it by adding “Please” or something similar. Judah and Benjamin refers to the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (see the comments on 2 Chr 11.1).

The LORD is with you, while you are with him: The Hebrew pronoun for you is plural and it will be important to make this clear in translation. This statement reveals the theology of the writer of 1-2 Chronicles, who sees God’s blessing as conditioned on the obedience of his people (see also verse 15). Another way of expressing this sentence is “The LORD will stay with you as long as you stay with him!” (New Living Translation).

If you seek him, he will be found by you: For you seek him, see the comments on 1 Chr 16.10-11 and 2 Chr 11.16. The passive expression he will be found by you will have to be made active in certain languages. Since the real subject (you) is clear, it will be easy to transform this clause to an active statement in most languages by saying “you will find him.” However, in order to focus more on the initiative of God, some may prefer to say “he will allow you to find him.” Contemporary English Version renders this whole sentence and the previous one as “The LORD will be with you and help you, as long as you obey and worship him.”

But if you forsake him, he will forsake you: The verb forsake is somewhat archaic in English, so New Revised Standard Version replaces it with the verb “abandon.” New Century Version uses the verb “leave,” but in some languages a more idiomatic expression such as “turn [your/his] back on” may be more appropriate.

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 .