Some translations leave the Hebrew connector at the beginning of this verse implicit (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible). This word introduces the reason why the dry stream bed will have pools or ditches made in it, so Revised Standard Version renders it For.

Thus says the LORD: The prophetic formula in the previous verse is repeated at the beginning of this verse. This may be omitted if it is awkward or unnatural in the receptor language to interrupt the actual message in this way.

You shall not see wind or rain is literally “You shall not see wind and you shall not see rain.” Repetition of the phrase “you shall not see” emphasizes the supernatural aspect of what is going to happen. The second person pronoun here (You) is now plural. Elisha is no longer addressing Joram as he was in verse 14; the promise here is to the confederation of kings together with their soldiers. In languages where it is not possible to speak of “seeing wind,” translators may say “You will not see any rain fall or notice the trees/leaves moving.” Bible en français courant says “you will not hear the wind, you will not see the rain.” Contemporary English Version has “You won’t feel any wind or see any rain.”

Stream-bed: See verse 16.

You, your cattle, and your beasts: This phrase serves to introduce additional subjects. The text has already said you shall drink, so the repetition of the plural pronoun you may be unnecessary in certain languages. What is important is that in addition to Joram and the people with him, their livestock would also be able to drink. In many languages the most natural way to translate this structure will be to make this whole phrase the subject of a plural form of the verb “to drink.”

The Hebrew word translated cattle refers to livestock in general, so it will be misleading to speak only of “cattle” since this is often understood as being limited to the bovine species. In place of this word, one version of the ancient Greek text has the word for “troops” or “army,” and this is followed by New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, and Gray. The Hebrew words for “your cattle” and “your troops” differ in spelling by only one consonant. However, the Hebrew text, which is given a {B} rating by Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, should be followed. Apparently the translator of the ancient Greek wished to make the prophetic promise correspond literally to the need expressed in verse 9. But the pronoun you here already corresponds to “the army” in verse 9. The term rendered beasts has to do with beasts of burden or “pack animals” (Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh; see the comments on verse 9). New Century Version has “other animals.” Contemporary English Version attempts to take care of both cattle and beasts with the more general term “animals.” This may be the best solution for certain other languages.

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 .