Since this begins a new appeal, it may be helpful in some languages to restate the fact that this is something that Solomon is requesting of God. New Century Version begins with “I ask that….”

Let these words … be near to the LORD our God day and night: A literal rendering of this expression will probably sound awkward in many languages. The meaning is more clearly communicated in the following renderings: “May the LORD our God be constantly aware of my request” and “I ask that the Lord our God always remember this prayer” (International Children’s Bible).

The words wherewith I have made supplication mean simply “which I have prayed,” but may be translated even more simply as “my prayer” or “this prayer.”

Day and night is an idiomatic way of saying “continually” or “always.”

May he maintain the cause of his servant: For maintain the cause, see the comments on verse 45. His servant refers to Solomon, who is the one making this prayer (see the comments on verses 28, 36, and 52).

As each day requires is literally “a thing of a day in its day.” This may be translated “all the things we need every day” or “each day, in whatever way we need it” (Contemporary English 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 .