Yea: this is a translation of the Hebrew adverb which is a marker of emphasis, and it may also be rendered “Indeed,” “Certainly,” or “Doubtless.” Others have translated it “Yes” (New Jerusalem Bible), “Surely” (Revised English Bible), and “Truly” (New American Standard Bible). But it is often left untranslated, as in New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New American Bible, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh as well as Good News Translation.

Does not my house stand so with God? This question is more literally “is not my house thus with God?” where the adverb of manner, “thus” or so, refers back to the description of the just ruler in the previous verse. The rendering of New International Version, “right with God,” seems to skew the meaning here. And the rhetorical question is really a statement of David’s strong belief that God will in future years bless his descendants. The word house, of course, refers to the family or descendants of David over the years to come. For this part of the verse, translators may consider a possible model that changes the question to a rather emphatic statement: “This, indeed, is how God has blessed my family.” Good News Translation focuses more on the future aspect of God’s blessing, but in languages that have a habitual verb form that includes the present as well as the future, such a form will be appropriate here.

An everlasting covenant: this is the same expression as used in the conclusion of the story of Noah’s ark (Gen 9.16), in God’s relationship to Abraham (Gen 17) and in numerous other places in the Old Testament (Exo 31.16; Lev 24.8; Psa 105.10). The everlasting covenant referred to here is further described as being ordered in all things and secure. The first of these two expressions is taken to mean that the agreement is “set forth in detail” (New American Bible) or “the terms spelled out” (Revised English Bible). The second word focuses on the certainty of the covenant. It is “unchanging” (Contemporary English Version) or “faithfully kept” (Revised English Bible).

Will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? A further rhetorical question is asked at the end of the verse, but it is like the first in that it is intended to make a strong affirmation of faith about what God will do for the family of David in the years after his death. It will be better translated as an affirmative statement in many languages.

The following is a possible model for the verse as a whole, changing the rhetorical questions to statements:

• Indeed, that is the way it will be with my descendants. God has made an agreement with me that will last forever. Everything is well arranged and he will never break his promise. This is all I want. God will be sure to help me; he will make all this happen.

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 .