Act therefore according to your wisdom: Good News Translation restates this as “You know what to do.” But the sense is more “Since you are wise, act prudently [or, wisely].” Solomon is to wait for the best time to act, and then he is to have Joab killed. In this context wisdom refers primarily to practical knowledge of how to live in the world rather than to knowledge of facts and information. Moffatt translates “Choose your own time.”

The connecting word but in Revised Standard Version (also New Revised Standard Version, New Century Version) hardly seems appropriate to the context and need not necessarily be reflected in other translations. Probably no connector will be required in many languages (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). If a connector is required, it will probably be better to use “and,” as in Revised English Bible and Nouvelle Bible Segond. Naturalness in the receptor language should be the determining factor in deciding how the two parts of this verse are to be connected.

Do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace: The reference to gray head is in fact a reference to gray hair, a sign of old age. This may also be translated “white head” (Anchor Bible). Similar expressions are found in Gen 42.38 and 44.31. David is saying that Joab must not be allowed to live to old age and then die a natural death. Joab’s violent death is reported in verse 34. Sheol was considered by the Israelites to be a dark place beneath the earth where dead people, whether good or evil, of all nations went after their death (see Gen 37.35; 42.38; 1 Sam 2.6; 2 Sam 22.6). Since this is a term that will have no meaning for many readers if transliterated into the receptor language, translators may wish to say something like “the world of the dead,” “the abode/dwelling place of the dead,” or “the underworld” (Revised English Bible margin). But care should be taken not to give the impression that this is a reference to the local cemetery. For this reason “the grave” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New International Version) is not recommended. It may be possible to translate the meaning without referring to “the world of the dead” at all, by saying something like “don’t let him die peacefully in his old age” (Contemporary English Version).

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