And they withstood King Uzziah: Withstood is literally “stood against.” Other possible renderings are “confronted” (New International Version, Revised English Bible, NET Bible) and “opposed” (God’s Word, La Bible du Semeur). For this whole clause New Century Version has “They told him he was wrong.”

It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD: Contemporary English Version says “Your Majesty, this isn’t right! You are not allowed to burn incense to the LORD.” Contemporary English Version begins with a term of respect, which may be helpful in other languages. Although the priests were confronting the king, they did so with respect.

But for the priests the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense: See the comments on verse 16. In this context the sons of Aaron refers to “the descendants of Aaron” (Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). The Hebrew verb rendered are consecrated comes from the same root as the adjective that is usually translated “holy” and means “cause to be holy” or “set aside for a special [holy] purpose.” The priests were set aside to serve God in the Temple (see the comments on 1 Chr 23.13). New Living Translation says “are set apart.”

Go out of the sanctuary: For the Hebrew word rendered sanctuary, see the comments on 1 Chr 22.19. Here it may be rendered “holy place” (Good News Translation).

For you have done wrong: The Hebrew verb here is the same one rendered “was false” in verse 16 (see the comments there).

And it will bring you no honor from the LORD God: The translation of this clause is uncertain. The meaning may be (a) what Uzziah has done will not bring honor to him from God, or (b) because of what Uzziah has done, God will not reveal himself in his glory to Uzziah. The Hebrew noun kavod is usually translated “honor” in this context, but it may also be rendered “glory,” “splendor,” or “reputation.” For this whole clause Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente has “and it will deprive you of the protection of God, the Lord.” However, the following alternative rendering in Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente seems to be the more widely accepted translation: “and it will not give you honor in the eyes of the Lord God.” A slightly different interpretation is expressed in New American Bible with “and [you] no longer have a part in the glory that comes from the LORD God.”

The direct quotation here may be made into indirect discourse by rendering the whole verse as follows:

• They respectfully told him that he had no right to burn incense as an offering to the LORD. They said that right belonged only to the priests, Aaron’s descendants. Then they told him that the LORD God would not honor him for what he had done and asked him to leave the holy place because he had done wrong.

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 .