And Solomon said to God: Good News Translation leaves it implied that it was God whom Solomon addressed. In this context the verb said is more naturally translated “replied” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “answered” (Good News Translation, New International Version, New American Bible).

Thou hast shown great and steadfast love to David my father: The archaic pronoun Thou is in keeping with Revised Standard Version‘s general practice to use special pronouns for God when he is addressed. However, Thou does not reflect a special pronoun in Hebrew and should not be imitated in the receptor language. This practice of Revised Standard Version is not followed by New Revised Standard Version nor even by New King James Version . Nearly all modern English versions use the modern pronoun “You.” The Hebrew pronoun for Thou is emphatic, so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible begins this clause with “It is you who….” In languages where the use of an independent pronoun shows emphasis, such a pronoun should probably be used here. Others may say “You are the one who….” The verb hast shown (literally “have done”) should not be understood as referring to a single incident. Rather, this clause is to be taken as a general statement about the way in which God regularly behaved toward Solomon’s father. Those languages that have habitual verb forms will almost certainly want to use such a form in this context. Others may have to add an adverb like “always” as in Good News Translation. Steadfast love translates the Hebrew word chesed (see the comments on 1 Chr 16.34). This word includes the idea of loving devotion and faithfulness to a person or group of persons as a result of a commitment, a promise, or a covenant. When it is used to describe God, its emphasis is on God’s faithfulness to his covenant with his people, his promise to be their God always and to protect them and take care of them. Other translations of chesed include “constant love” (Revised English Bible) and “faithful love” (New Jerusalem Bible). Languages vary as to whether it is more natural to say David my father or “my father David” (Good News Translation, New Century Version, Bible en français courant). Whichever order is more natural should be used. Other ways of translating this whole clause include “You dealt most graciously with my father David” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “You have shown great kindness to David my father” (New International Version).

And hast made me king in his stead: A causative verb form here will be the most natural way of translating this clause in some languages; for example, “and you caused me to become king in his place” or “and you caused me to reign in his place after he died.” Bible en français courant says “and now you have designated me as king to succeed him.” Another possible model is “and now you have let me replace him as king.”

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 .