Precious: literally “great.” Be precious: literally “be great.” After having established the fact that he had been merciful to Saul, David voices a wish that may be taken as a prayer that Yahweh will be equally gracious to him. In some languages it may be necessary to translate the last part of this verse “I pray that the LORD will also be kind to me and rescue me from all my troubles.”

Tribulation: this represents the same word that is translated “calamities” in 10.19. In 2 Sam 4.9 it is rendered “adversity.” The idea of the overall expression is that David would be kept safe in all circumstances. In this context it has been translated “distress” (An American Translation, Revised English Bible, La Bible du Semeur); “difficulties” (New American Bible); “trouble” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New International Version, New Century Version).

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 .