The archaic wording of Revised Standard Version is made simpler in New Revised Standard Version (“Please let your servant speak…”), even though the third person indirect reference and the politeness formula are retained.

Pray: or “Please” (New Revised Standard Version). Regarding this particle, see the previous verse and 13.6.

Formulas of politeness already seen in this conversation are repeated here. When the woman says let your handmaid speak, she is speaking of herself, and in most languages she would more naturally say “let me speak” or “may I say something [else].” Similarly, when she says to my lord the king, the meaning is “to you, sir.” Translators should attempt to retain the politeness of her address without using unnatural-sounding phrases in the receptor language.

The meaning of speak a word is to add something to what has already been said. Some may say simply “speak another word” or “say something else” (New Jerusalem Bible and Anchor Bible). The repetition of the same verb, Speak, in the response of King David is merely a way of giving her permission to do what she had asked. Because this imperative standing alone has other connotations in English, it has been translated “All right” in Good News Translation. The idea is that the woman is asked to continue speaking. New Jerusalem Bible translates “Go on.” In other languages translators may prefer to say “Continue speaking” or “Follow up the matter.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .