But: The common Hebrew conjunction is translated by Revised Standard Version in such a way as to mark the contrast between the queen’s expectations and what she actually witnessed when she met Solomon. While her expectations were quite positive, she was overwhelmed by what she discovered when she saw Solomon in Jerusalem.

Hebrew uses two distinct nouns for report in this verse. Reports at the beginning of the verse is literally “words,” and report at the end is literally “what is heard.” Since these words function as synonyms here, many English translations use the noun “report[s]” for both Hebrew nouns (for example, Revised Standard Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

My own eyes had seen it: Instead of retaining the noun eyes as the subject of the verb had seen, it will be more natural in many cases to say “[I] saw with my own eyes” (New American Bible) or “[I] saw for myself” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible).

Good News Translation does not translate the Hebrew particle rendered behold in the middle of this verse by Revised Standard Version. This particle calls attention to the situation that follows, and if the receptor language has such a particle or construction that serves the same function, it may be used here.

The half was not told me: The passive verb here will have to be made active in some languages. It will be possible in certain cases to use the indefinite third person plural subject as follows: “they did not tell me….” But in other cases a more emphatic negative could be used, such as “no one told me….”

The word prosperity translates a rather general Hebrew term that may be rendered “good,” “goodness,” “beauty,” “gladness,” or “wealth,” depending on the context. In this context the most appropriate meaning is “wealth” (Good News Translation, New International Version).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .