This verse slightly interrupts the flow of what Solomon is saying, and for this reason Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version place this verse within parentheses in order to show that it is a parenthetical comment. Solomon continues to refer to his own people as they instead of “we” since the focus is not on Solomon and other Israelites but on the people in general.

Thy heritage: One’s heritage is that which belongs to the person as a birthright or by inheritance. Here the people of Israel are called God’s heritage, as they are also in Deut 9.26, 29 and 32.9. Since thy heritage is parallel in meaning to thy people, Good News Translation does not translate the words thy heritage. But see New Living Translation: “they are your people—your special possession.”

Thou didst bring out of Egypt: This is a common theme in Solomon’s prayers (verses 9, 16, 21, 51, 53).

From the midst of the iron furnace: This is metaphorical language. The suffering of the Israelites in Egypt is compared to the heat produced in an iron furnace used for refining the impurities from metal. Here there is no focus on the removing of impurities but rather on the heat as a symbol of suffering. In some languages it will be advisable to make explicit the fact that this is a kind of comparison. Translators may speak of “Egypt, which was like a blazing furnace.” International Children’s Bible uses a separate sentence to express the comparison as follows: “It was as if you pulled them out of a blazing furnace.” Some translations do not translate the form here but rather express the sense of the metaphor. For the last half of the verse, compare “you brought them out of Egypt, the place of terrible suffering” (Parole de Vie).

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 .