In order to show clearly to whom this prayer is being addressed, Good News Translation adds the vocative “O LORD” twice in this verse, even though it does not occur in the Masoretic Text here (compare verse 19 above, where the vocative is found in the Masoretic Text). Translators do not need to follow the model of Good News Translation here unless it is required by the receptor language.

Then hear thou in heaven: See the comments on verses 21 and 23.

And forgive the sin of thy servants, thy people Israel: The singular word sin has a collective sense here again, as in the previous two verses, so Good News Translation and some other modern versions say “sins.” Contemporary English Version leaves the idea of sins implicit in the verb forgive.

Thy servants, thy people Israel is literally “your servants and your people Israel” in the Masoretic Text. Most interpreters understand these two phrases to be in apposition, that is, thy servants are thy people Israel (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation). The ancient Syriac has “your servant and your people Israel.” New Jerusalem Bible and Moffatt follow this reading, and so does Revised English Bible, but Revised English Bible places these phrases in the previous verse. If this reading is followed, then the reference is probably to the king and the people. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the reading in the Masoretic Text.

When thou dost teach them the good way in which they should walk: The way in which this clause is related grammatically to the rest of the verse is uncertain. Revised Standard Version takes the Hebrew conjunction at the beginning of this clause as a temporal connector, rendering it when. For Revised Standard Version this is a temporal clause. However, Good News Translation treats it as an imperative clause by rendering the conjunction as “and” (similarly New International Version). For New Jerusalem Bible this clause is parenthetical. New Jerusalem Bible renders the conjunction as a logical connector and places the whole clause between long dashes, saying “for you are constantly showing them the good way which they must follow.”

The Hebrew verb for teach is related to the Hebrew word torah, which is often translated “Law” but sometimes “teaching.” The good way refers to the proper way to live in accordance with the will of Yahweh. For walk see the comments on verses 14 and 16. For the good way in which they should walk, Good News Translation has “to do what is right,” and New International Version says “the right way to live.”

And grant rain upon thy land: Grant rain is literally “give rain.” Good News Translation and many other English versions say “send rain.” In some languages this will be most naturally translated by a causative verb form, such as “cause rain to fall.” Thy land refers to the land of Israel and not the earth in general.

Which thou hast given to thy people as an inheritance: Elsewhere the Old Testament refers to the Promised Land as something that the people of Israel “inherit” (see, for example, Exo 32.13; Josh 1.6). An inheritance is something that cannot be taken away (see the comments on 1 Chr 16.18). That is why Good News Translation says “a permanent possession.”

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 .