Revised Standard Version preserves the form of the Hebrew in which David addresses the people in the second person plural at the beginning of the verse and then switches to the third person at the end of the verse, his people. In order to avoid confusion for the English reader, Good News Translation maintains the second person throughout the entire verse.

Good News Translation adds “He said” at the beginning of this verse for clarity and for reasons of English style. This quote frame introduces David’s words to the leaders of Israel. Contemporary English Version is similar with “David said,” and so is NET Bible with “He told them.”

Is not the LORD your God with you?: David is not really asking a question here, but he is actually affirming God’s presence (compare verse 11). This rhetorical question may be rendered as a statement (so Good News Translation, New Living Translation, New Century Version).

And has he not given you peace on every side?: This is another rhetorical question that may be rendered as a statement (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version). Revised Standard Version uses the past tense here (also Good News Translation, Nueva Versión Internacional). However, other versions use the future tense; for example, Revised English Bible has “Will he not give you peace on every side?” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “and He will give you rest on every side.” Peace is literally “rest” as in verse 9. The language of “rest” from Israel’s enemies reminds the reader of passages such as Deut 12.10 and Josh 21.44. On every side may refer to the surrounding countries and be translated “on all your borders” (La Bible du Semeur) or “with the surrounding nations” (New Living Translation). But since the next sentence refers to people who used to live in Israel, this phrase probably does not include foreign countries.

For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand: The Hebrew word translated land sometimes refers to the “earth,” but the context here excludes such a broad reference. The phrase the inhabitants of the land may be interpreted in at least two different ways: (1) Perhaps David is referring to all those who lived in the land of Canaan before the Israelites came. This seems to be the sense of Good News Translation, which says “the people who used to live in this land” (similarly Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur). (2) It is also possible that the Hebrew phrase here refers to “the surrounding nations” (New Living Translation) or “the inhabitants of the region” ( NET Bible, Nueva Versión Internacional). Into my hand may be rendered “into my power” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Nueva Versión Internacional, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

And the land is subdued before the LORD and his people: The Hebrew verb rendered is subdued often expresses the idea of excessive use of power. It is used of subduing nations as well as of subduing or violating a woman (Est 7.8). Since this is a passive verb, many languages will require an active form. Other translations include “lies conquered” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “is subject” (New International Version). New Century Version turns this sentence around and renders it more dynamically, saying “The LORD and his people are in control of this land.” In this context his people could also be understood to mean “his army.” Good News Translation renders his people as “you” since David is addressing their leaders. Good News Translation maintains second person for the Israelite leaders throughout this verse in order to avoid confusion for the English reader.

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 .