But the LORD said to David my father: But renders the common Hebrew conjunction. Here it functions to mark a contrast between what David wanted to do (verse 7) and what God intended.

Instead of repeating the words David my father, which are in the Hebrew text, Good News Translation substitutes them with the pronoun “him” for reasons of style (also New Living Translation, Revised English Bible, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, La Bible du Semeur, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).

In this context the Hebrew adverb rendered Whereas means simply “because” or “on account of the fact.” But the English word Whereas often introduces a rather complex structure, which is unnecessary in this case. The meaning of the proposition that follows is simply that what David had thought of was in principle a good idea.

It was in your heart to build a house for my name: See the comments on the previous verse.

You did well that it was in your heart may be better translated “your purpose was good” (Revised English Bible), “you had the best of intentions,” or simply “it was good” (New Century Version).

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 .