The verb that introduces the prayer in verses 23-53 is simply the ordinary verb said, but in certain cases the context may require something more specific, such as “prayed” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, Parole de Vie, La Bible du Semeur).
It will be recalled from the comments on 1 Kgs 3.6 that in all prayers to God, Revised Standard Version uses archaic pronouns (thee and thy in this verse) and verb forms (“hast” and “didst” in verse 24), but this does not reflect the Hebrew, which has only the ordinary second person singular pronouns and common verb forms.
When Solomon says that there is no God like thee, in heaven above or on earth beneath, he is not here denying the existence of other gods. Rather, he is declaring that no other god is as faithful as Yahweh is to the commitments that he has made to his own people. The following restructuring of Contemporary English Version may be a good model for certain other languages: “no other god in heaven or on earth is like you!” Note that Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version use lowercase for the word “god” since the reference is to gods other than the God of Israel.
The prepositions above and beneath in the expression in heaven above or on earth beneath represent the world-view of the Israelites, but they may sound redundant in certain other languages. If this is the case, they may be omitted as in Contemporary English Version. Others, however, may wish to follow the model of Bible en français courant: “neither up there in heaven nor down here on earth.” Translators should choose a natural word pair for heaven and earth in their language.
Keeping covenant and showing steadfast love is literally “keeping covenant and steadfast love.” As Good News Translation makes explicit, keeping covenant implies that God keeps his covenant with his people, Israel. Steadfast love renders the Hebrew noun chesed, which has a wide range of meanings (see the comments on 1 Kgs 2.7 and 3.6). The English nouns “loyalty,” “goodness,” “grace,” and “kindness” are all possible translations. Others focus on the element of “faithfulness.” New Jerusalem Bible says “as loyal to the covenant and faithful in love.” But keeping covenant and showing steadfast love do not speak of two separate actions on the part of God. Rather, he shows his constant love by keeping the covenant that he had made. For this reason New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh combines these two phrases into one by saying “who keep Your gracious covenant.” New American Bible renders these words “you keep your covenant of kindness.”
A literal rendering of thy servants may possibly leave the meaning unclear to some readers. For this reason Good News Translation says “your people.” But in making the reference clear, Good News Translation does lose the sense of “obedience” implied in the word servants. It may be better to say something like “your people who worship you” or “your people who serve you.” Some interpreters think the reference here is to future kings (see the comments on verse 36). For a fuller discussion on “servant,” see “Translating 1–2 Kings,” page 12.
Who walk before thee with all their heart: Regarding the figurative use of the Hebrew verb rendered walk, see the comments on 1 Kgs 2.4 and 3.3. In this context walk before thee means “live in your presence.” The heart was considered the center of thought and will. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh renders with all their heart as “in wholehearted devotion.”
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 .