But renders the common Hebrew conjunction. Here it marks contrast between God’s compassionate treatment of his people and their calloused reaction to it. The writer’s use of three different Hebrew verbs for their sinful reaction in this verse indicates the complete disregard they had for God’s messengers.

They kept mocking the messengers of God: Other acceptable translations of kept mocking include “ridiculed” (New Jerusalem Bible) and “never ceased to deride” (Revised English Bible).

Despising his words: The people showed their lack of respect for the messages from God by ignoring them totally. For the Hebrew verb rendered despising, see the comments on 1 Chr 15.29.

And scoffing at his prophets: Scoffing at may be better translated “laughing at” (Good News Translation) or “derided” (An American Translation).

Till the wrath of the LORD rose against his people: Their disregard for divine pity eventually led to an outpouring of God’s anger. This clause may not sound natural in some languages if translated literally because of a clash between the subject wrath and the verb rose. A more natural way of saying it may be “until, finally, the LORD became so angry with his people” (New Century Version; similarly Contemporary English Version).

Till there was no remedy: The Hebrew noun rendered remedy is often translated “healing.” It was too late for healing, that is, the situation became so serious that there was no turning back, no possibility of avoiding God’s wrath. Contemporary English Version translates this clause and the previous one as “until he finally became so angry that nothing could stop him from punishing Judah and Jerusalem.”

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 .