And: the common conjunction may be omitted in many languages or may be represented by beginning a new paragraph at this point as in Contemporary English Version.
The two verbs introducing the direct quotation are more literally “said … in his cursing.” In many languages a single verb will satisfactorily translate the meaning. But others may say “spoke in this way as a curse” or “cursed him using these words.” New Jerusalem Bible reads “the words of his curse were these….”
Begone: this archaic term has been replaced by “Out!” in New Revised Standard Version. In other languages there may be a special term used to chase away children or animals. But others will say simply “Go away” or “Get out of here” (Contemporary English Version).
Man of blood: these words are used to describe a person who has spilled the blood of others by killing them. A similar expression is found in plural form in the Psalms (55.23 and 139.19). It is probably best to translate it “murderer” (Knox, Good News Translation, New Century Version, Contemporary English Version). A literal translation would probably be misunderstood in most languages, and the rendering “criminal” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) seems too weak.
Worthless fellow: see the comments on a similar term (rendered “base woman”) in 1 Sam 1.16. This expression is hardly strong enough to reflect the meaning of the Hebrew. The exact meaning of the Hebrew word beliyaʿal is not clear, though it is clearly a term of contempt. Perhaps it is formed from two words meaning “without” and “worth.” In the Old Testament this word is used in contexts that suggest the idea of “evil”; by the time of the New Testament, it had become the name of the prince of evil (see 2 Cor 6.15). A literal translation (so King James Version) will have zero meaning. A translation such as “scoundrel” (New Revised Standard Version) or “you villain” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) seems correct in this context. An American Translation translates “vile scoundrel” and New American Bible has “wicked man.” Some versions combine the two expressions. Revised English Bible, for example, takes the two together to mean “you murderous scoundrel.” And Anchor Bible translates them as “you bloodstained fiend of hell!”
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 .