For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: The Hebrew conjunction rendered For functions as an emphatic particle here, so it may be rendered “Indeed.” The Hebrew words translated strangers and sojourners are synonyms here. They are used of the patriarchs in Gen 15.13 and 23.4. Such persons lived in a land without owning property and without most rights of the people who were citizens (see the comments on 1 Chr 22.2, where the Hebrew word for strangers is rendered “aliens”). Other translations of these synonyms include “guests … passing visitors” (New Jerusalem Bible) and “aliens … transients” (New Revised Standard Version). In some languages it may be necessary to state at this point where David and his people were temporary guests. Some may have to add “in this world” or “in this life” (similarly Good News Translation). This is merely a matter of shifting forward a little the phrase on the earth. Since the Israelite people were not literally strangers and sojourners, Good News Translation changes these metaphors into similes, saying “like exiles and strangers.” Good News Translation renders before thee as “You know,” which is a helpful model. As is often the case, fathers in this context refers to “ancestors” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible).

Our days on the earth are like a shadow: The comparison of life to a shadow that is not lasting is common in the Psalms (102.11; 109.23; 144.4).

And there is no abiding is literally “and there is no hope.” This means that people do not have hope of continuing to live indefinitely. Good News Translation and Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje express this clause as “and we cannot escape death.” Other translations include “without hope” (New International Version, Nueva Versión Internacional, Peregrino and “without hope and longevity” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Some interpreters understand the Hebrew word translated abiding to mean “security.” This is the basis for the American Bible translation “without security” (also NET Bible, Bible en français courant).

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 .