The servants speak to the king in the third person, Let our lord, and refer to themselves in the third person, your servants. It should be clear in the receptor language that the speakers are addressing the king. At the same time the respectful form of address should be maintained. This may be done by using polite terms of respect, but in most languages a literal rendering of the Revised Standard Version text will be very unnatural. The Hebrew contains a particle of entreaty, which softens the request of the king’s servants. Fox reflects this in his translation: “pray let our lord speak—your servants (stand) before you.”

Who are before you: these words do not express the physical location of the speakers. Rather this Hebrew idiom means “to serve.” New Revised Standard Version better expresses the meaning: “who attend you.” Other useful models are New American Bible (“your servants here in attendance on you”) and New Jerusalem Bible (“your servants who wait on you”). See also verses 21-22 below, where David “stands before Saul.”

Who is skilful in playing: literally “knowing in playing.” But since the verb “to know” as used here implies a deep and thorough familiarity, it is acceptable to supply the word skilful as Revised Standard Version has done. Many other versions also supply this word or a similar one: “cunning” (King James Version), “good at” (Contemporary English Version). The same would be true of the corresponding expression in verse 18 below.

The lyre: see the comments on 10.5, where this same Hebrew word is also translated “lyre.” See also verse 23 below. The Hebrew says that he will play it “with his hand,” and very literal translations include these words (King James Version, Chouraqui, Fox), but most translations omit these words as unnecessary.

You will be well: literally “[it will be] well with you.” New Revised Standard Version and New American Bible say “you will feel better.” But others may say “it will do you good” or possibly “it will calm you down.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .