But Micaiah said: The common Hebrew conjunction at the beginning of this verse is correctly rendered But in both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation because the prophet’s response is contrary to the request of the messenger. The verb said may be translated according to the context as “replied” (New Living Translation) or “answered” (Good News Translation, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Century Version).

As the LORD lives: Regarding this oath form, see the comments on 1 Kgs 1.29.

What the LORD says to me, that I will speak: The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the word that. Revised Standard Version preserves this emphasis in English, but Good News Translation does not. Compare Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, which also preserves this emphasis: “what the LORD will tell me, it is that which I will say!” Good News Translation reverses the order of the elements in the words of Micaiah here, and this may prove to be more natural in a number of languages.

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 .