Nevertheless some good is found in you: Nevertheless translates a relatively uncommon Hebrew particle that marks contrast. In spite of the wrong that Jehoshaphat had done, the prophet sees some good in him. Other contrastive conjunctions used here are “However” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “Yet” (New American Bible), and “But” (New Century Version). Some good is found in you is more literally “good things [plural] are found in you.” This passive expression will have to be made active in some languages. New Century Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh say simply “there is some good in you,” and God’s Word has “you’ve done some good things.” Contemporary English Version uses a negative expression, saying “not everything about you is bad.”

The Hebrew conjunction rendered for in the middle of this verse introduces the specific positive contributions made by King Jehoshaphat. In some languages it may be better left untranslated (so Good News Translation).

You destroyed the Asherahs out of the land: See 2 Chr 17.6. The Hebrew verb rendered destroyed has a range of meanings, including “to sweep away,” “to remove,” and “to devastate.” Regarding the Asherahs, see the comments on 2 Chr 14.3. The land refers to the southern kingdom of Judah.

And have set your heart to seek God: See the comments on 2 Chr 11.16. This clause may be rendered “and made up your mind to worship God” (Moffatt) or “and you have committed yourself to obeying God” (similarly New Living Translation). A rendering that emphasizes even more strongly the habitual nature of this decision is “and have made a practice of obeying God” (similarly Revised English Bible). In languages that have habitual verb forms, such a form will be appropriate here.

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 .