But David replied: the Hebrew says “But David swore again and said.” The English verb “swear” in this context means “to make a vow,” not “to curse” or “to use vulgar language.” Since the text has not already said that David swore once before, many think that the Masoretic Text contains an error. They therefore follow the Septuagint, which reads “replied to him” (so Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation).

Some follow the Masoretic Text but omit the word “again.” Compare New Jerusalem Bible: “In reply, David swore.”

Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text. According to Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament the oath refers to the words as the LORD lives and as your soul lives at the end of this verse. Further, the word rendered “again” in the footnotes in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation should not be translated “again” but rather “moreover.” Revised English Bible provides a good model: “David said, ‘I am ready to swear to it.’ ”

Knows well: literally “to know, he knows.” See “Reinforcing verbs” in “Translating the Books of Samuel,” page 20. Some may translate “he surely [or, certainly] knows.” Fox expresses the emphasis by saying “Your father knows, yes, knows.”

Found favor in your eyes: see the comments on 1.18.

He thinks: literally “he says.” See the comments on 18.11.

The Hebrew contains a quotation within a quotation, as David quotes the words that Saul thinks. Good News Translation has changed the embedded quotation into an indirect quotation. This model should probably be followed in many other languages.

As the LORD lives: see the comments on 14.39.

As your soul lives: see the same expression in 25.26. Without any obvious reason Good News Translation omits these words. They should be kept. New Revised Standard Version says “and as you yourself live.” In some languages it will be possible to say something like “It is as certain as the fact the LORD is alive, and as certain as the fact that you yourself are alive.” Others have attempted to convey the meaning in natural language by saying “I swear in the name of Yahweh and in your presence.”

There is but a step between me and death: at the beginning of this clause, the Hebrew text has a particle that expresses emphasis, but neither Revised Standard Version, nor Good News Translation, nor most other translations attempt to translate it. Fox more closely expresses the force of the Hebrew here: “as YHWH lives, and as you yourself live, indeed, there is only the like of a footstep between me and death!” Compare also Chouraqui: “yes, there is only a footstep between me and death!”

It may not be natural to retain the image of the step in certain languages. The idea here is “I am very close to death” or “I do not have long to live.” Other languages may have different and more colorful metaphors for describing nearness to death.

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 .