The king also said to Shimei is literally “And the king said to Shimei.” Revised Standard Version adds the word also, which is not in the Hebrew, in order to make the construction smoother in English. Since the king was speaking to Shimei in verses 42 and 43, it is awkward in English to interrupt the king’s words with the unnecessary words “And the king said to Shimei.” Good News Translation eliminates the awkward construction by not translating the words “And the king said to Shimei.” But these words do serve a purpose. In verses 36-37 Solomon spoke to Shimei, and in verse 38 Shimei responded to Solomon. Now in verses 42-45, the king continues speaking, and Shimei does not have a chance to reply. Some may prefer to follow the example of Bible en français courant, which has “the king added,” or to use “The king went on to say.”

You know in your own heart all the evil that you did to David my father is literally “You, you know all the evil that your heart knew [or, knows] which you did to David my father.” Neither Revised Standard Version nor Good News Translation reflect the use of the emphatic pronoun “You” in Hebrew. But compare Chouraqui: “You yourself know….” Anchor Bible uses italic font to show the emphasis: “You know….” If it is natural to do so in the receptor language, this emphasis should be retained. Often this is done by the use of the independent personal pronoun.

Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have given a present tense rendering to both Hebrew verbs for “know” and have restructured this clause. The resulting sense seems to be that Shimei now knows in his heart all the evil that he did. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “You know all the wrong, which you remember very well, that you did to my father David.”

But the Hebrew may be understood differently. The second occurrence of the verb “to know” may be rendered in the past tense, so that the whole clause reads “You now know all the evil that your heart then knew….” This may mean that Shimei knows that he had deliberately intended to do evil to David. “Heart” may be better translated here as “mind” in English, and the words “that your heart knew” may mean “that you planned [to do].” If this second interpretation is followed, the sense is “You, you know all the evil that you had planned to do to David my father.” Either interpretation is acceptable.

For all the evil done to David, see the references in verse 8 to the events in 2 Samuel.

The LORD will bring back your evil upon your own head: As in the earlier passages where similar expressions are used (for example, 1 Kgs 2.32; 1 Sam 25.39), this refers to bearing the responsibility for one’s own actions. So the meaning is that Shimei will be punished for his past actions. New Century Version has “now the LORD will punish you for those wrongs.”

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 .