May the LORD judge between me and you: in some languages it will be necessary to say something like “May the LORD settle the question of whether you are right or I am right” or “I’ll let the LORD decide which one of us has done right” (Contemporary English Version).

May the LORD avenge me upon you: a literal translation may be difficult to understand. Good News Translation expresses the meaning clearly. David has already determined in his own mind what the LORD would decide about who is right and who is wrong. So his second wish is that the one who is in the wrong (Saul) should be punished. A possible model translation is “and may he [the LORD] make you pay for the wrong that you have done to me” (La Bible du Semeur). Others may say something like “The LORD will be the one who makes you pay for the wrong you did; I will not be the one.”

But: this translation of the common Hebrew conjunction takes it as marking contrast between what Yahweh would do and what David would not do. Most modern versions understand it in this way, so the Good News Translation model is not recommended at this point.

My hand shall not be against you: that is, “but I won’t do anything to you” (Contemporary English Version). See the same expression in 18.17. And compare also the following verse.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .