The first half of this verse seems to be a general statement in which David refers only indirectly to himself. Revised English Bible, however, translates this as a direct self-reference: “The LORD who rewards uprightness and loyalty will reward the man into whose power he put you today, for I refused to lift my hand against the LORD’s anointed.” It seems better, however, to follow the form of the Hebrew here and keep the first part of the verse as a general statement of what God does. The use of the word man should not be taken as an indication that David thinks that only males are rewarded for being just and faithful. Instead of every man, New Revised Standard Version has “everyone.”

His righteousness and his faithfulness: New Century Version says “for the things he does right and for his loyalty to him [to God].” Another way of expressing the meaning of this phrase may be “because that person is righteous and faithful.” And in those languages that require it, translators may have to indicate that the person is faithful to God, as New Century Version has done by using the pronoun “him.”

Into my hand: literally “into hand.” Some translations follow the ancient versions and say “into my hand.” Even if one follows the Masoretic Text, it will be necessary in many receptor languages to add the pronoun my. See the comments on 4.8.

Put forth my hand against: the essential meaning of the verb used here is “to do harm to” as indicated in Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version and New American Bible. New Living Translation “kill” is probably too strong. Certain versions attempt to retain an English image that contains the word for hand (New International Version: “lay a hand on”; New Jerusalem Bible: “raise my hand against”). But this will not be possible in many languages.

The LORD’s anointed: see the comments on 2.10.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .