And you shall put into the ark is literally “And you [singular] shall give unto the box.” The word for “give” here means to “put” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version), “place” (Durham), or “deposit” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). The testimony refers to the reminders or terms of the covenant, in this case probably “the two stone tablets … on which the commandments are written” (Good News Translation). (See the comment on “testimony” at 16.34.) Translator’s Old Testament has “the covenant symbols” and New American Bible simply has “the commandments.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh uses square brackets to show that some English words are added in translation—“[the tablets of] the Pact”—but this is not recommended.

Which I shall give you is literally “which I give unto you [singular].” The tense of the verb is not indicated, but the wider context suggests the future tense (see 31.18). Durham, however, has “which I am giving you,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “which I am about to give you.” Contemporary English Version reorders the clauses as follows: “When I give you the Ten Commandments written on two flat stones, put them inside the chest.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .