Answered: literally “answered and said.”

David’s words to the woman of Tekoa are introduced by the same particle of entreaty seen in her requests to him (verses 12, 15, and 17). Goldman presents the king as beginning his remarks with the words “I pray thee….” But most versions leave this element untranslated here.

Do not hide from me anything I ask you: this is a request for complete truthfulness, but it also contains the idea that David intends to ask the woman a question. Good News Translation breaks this up into two parts by first indicating that a question will be asked and then insisting that the answer must be absolutely truthful. The last part may be best translated in some languages as “Do not lie to me at all by your answer” or “Do not deceive me in the smallest detail.”

Let my lord the king speak: the answer of the woman is simply an acknowledgment that the king should go ahead with the question he wanted to ask. The reply in the receptor language should indicate respect in the most natural way possible and should also request that David carry on with his question.

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 .