What's the Correct Translation (1 Chron. 4:10)?

A few years back, about the turn of the millennium, a book by Bruce Wilkinson was all the rage. The Prayer of Jabez dealt with two verses of Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. The first of these explains that his mother named him Jabez ecause I bore him in pain." His actual prayer is found in verse 10: "Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!' And God granted him what he requested" (NAS95).

Translations vary on verse 10, but most of them agree that everything Jabez is asking for is for himself. He wants increased prosperity (enlarging his borders). He desires that God's hand favor him, which is a reasonable request for someone who has dedicated himself to God. He also asks to be kept from harm, which servants like David prayed for. Evil men often made plans against the righteous; such schemes deserve to fail. The last request is to be delivered from pain, which is unusual. Jesus endured great pain on the cross. Paul had a thorn in the flesh, but God's grace was sufficient (2 Cor. 12:7-9). Job, who was a righteous man, suffered greatly. So, wouldn't this last request be a selfish one? Few of us would blame him; wouldn't we all like to be free from pain?

However, the New King James translates this last request as follows: "that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" Interesting! It shifts the entire meaning. In this version, instead of being kept from experiencing pain, he wants to avoid inflicting pain on others. How does that work? Suppose he stole another's gold or silver. Such an act would inflict pain and sorrow upon them. What if, in a courtroom, he bore false witness against a neighbor? That too would be an evil thing that would cause another pain. Needless to say, murdering someone would afflict his family, friends, and the entire community. He should have avoided the evil of anger and being ruled by his emotions.

So, which translation is correct? Asking for exemption from pain fits the tenor of verse ten. Prosperity and good health are two chief concerns of all people everywhere. Not being the cause of pain, however, fits more with the text of verse 9. He caused pain to his mother when she gave birth to him. Could he be pleading with God not to be a source of pain to others ever again? What an unselfish request! One of the most common sins is adultery. How many participants in this sin ever stop to think about the pain others will experience as a result of their actions—mates, children, and family members especially, along with acquaintances in the community? Certainly, it would be appropriate to pray that we not cause others pain.