Remember now: In some languages it may sound more spontaneous to say “Don’t forget” (Contemporary English Version).

I beseech thee renders the Hebrew particle of entreaty, which is often rendered “please.” It would not be out of place to begin this prayer with the word “Please” as New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has done. This particle of entreaty is dropped by Good News Translation, but since it serves to make the prayer sound more urgent and sincere, it should probably be retained in some form. New Revised Standard Version uses a less archaic verb by translating “I implore you.” But it may sound better to say “I beg you” (New Jerusalem Bible).

It will be recalled from earlier passages that the archaic pronouns (thee and thy here) used in prayers addressed to God do not reflect anything in the Hebrew, but are a creation of the Revised Standard Version translators (see the comments on 1 Kgs 3.6). New Revised Standard Version, like most other modern versions, uses the ordinary pronouns “you” and “your.”

Walked before thee in faithfulness: See the comments on 1 Kgs 3.6. It will be recalled that in contexts such as this, the verb walked means “lived” (Revised English Bible). Some other verbs that are appropriate in this context are “behaved” (New Jerusalem Bible) and “served” (Good News Translation, American Bible).

With a whole heart: The same expression or a very similar one is common in the books of 1-2 Chronicles (1 Chr 12.38, where Revised Standard Version translates “of a single mind”; 28.9; 29.9; 2 Chr 19.9; 25.2) and in the Psalms. It is also reminiscent of the expression “with all your heart,” which is common in the book of Deuteronomy. It implies absolute and complete devotion to God.

What is good in thy sight is more literally “what is good in your eyes” (New International Version). But in some languages it will be more natural to say something like “what you consider to be right” or “what you see as good.”

Hezekiah wept bitterly is literally “he wept a great weep.” Other renderings here are “Hezekiah cried loudly” (New Century Version) and “… shed many tears” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .