The verb phrase give a wide place for may mean to provide space for military maneuvers, or else to provide freedom so that one will not be captured. Probably the latter is more suitable here. Compare the way in which the related noun “a broad place” is used in verse 20.

If one wishes to follow Good News Translation, “from being captured,” it may be necessary to avoid the passive construction. For example, translators may say “You have not let anyone capture me” or “You have not allowed my enemies to catch me.” On the other hand some translators may wish to keep the parallelism between steps and feet.

The relation between lines a and b is that of consequence, which both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation translate with the conjunction and at the beginning of line b. It is possible to make the consequence even more clear by sacrificing the imagery and saying, for example, “Because you kept me from being captured, I…” or “You have kept my enemies from taking me; therefore, they have never defeated me.” Translators should, however, attempt to keep the images or supply other images.

The word for feet (or, more precisely, “ankles” as in New Jerusalem Bible and Anchor Bible) occurs only here and in Psa 18.36. The idea expressed by my feet did not slip is that David was always able to keep standing and to keep fighting his enemies. In addition to the model provided by Good News Translation, some other possibilities are “I won’t stumble” (Contemporary English Version), “ankles that never weaken” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “unwavering was my stride” (New American Bible).

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 .