There may be some confusion about the wording of the question that begins in verse 7 and ends at the beginning of this verse. In most languages it will be better to make a separate sentence of the last part of the previous verse. The beginning of this verse will then be translated either as a question (Good News Translation) or as an emphatic statement: “But you’re all plotting against me!” (Contemporary English Version).

Discloses to me: literally “uncovers my ears [concerning …]” (see the comments on 9.15). It will be more natural in many cases to say “no one tells me” or “nobody informs me.”

My son … the son of Jesse: the references are to Jonathan and David. At the end of this verse, David is referred to as my servant. Translators should make sure that all of these references are understood by their readers. In some cases this may mean supplying the names.

Makes a league with: literally “about my son cutting [a covenant] with.” The Hebrew is elliptical here, omitting the word “covenant” after the verb “to cut.” See the comments on “make a treaty with” in 11.1-2.

Stirred up: literally “cause to arise.” This may be translated “helped [to] rebel” (Contemporary English Version), “encouraged” (New Century Version), or “incited” (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible).

To lie in wait, as at this day: see the same words in verse 13 below. To lie in wait renders a participle of a Hebrew verb meaning “to lie in wait to ambush someone.” The same verb occurs in 15.5. Some possible model translations of this expression are “is waiting to attack me” and “to ambush me” (New Century Version, Contemporary English Version).

The Septuagint says “against me as an enemy” instead of against me, to lie in wait. The two Hebrew words “to lie in wait” and “enemy” differ only in the middle consonant and could easily be confused, since they are similar in shape. The Septuagint is followed by New American Bible (“to be an enemy against me”), New Jerusalem Bible (“to become my enemy”), and Osty-Trinquet.

As at this day is a literal translation. More idiomatic English renderings include “right now” (Good News Translation), “today” (New Revised Standard Version), and “now” (Revised English Bible). Saul is upset not just that David is looking for a chance to kill him, but also that he has already started his plans against Saul and no one had told him. New American Bible makes this clear: “None of you shows sympathy for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant to be an enemy against me, as is the case today.”

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 .