Verse 14 is instructive in that it reverses completely the normal order of general to specific parallelism. Perhaps by now the translator is prepared to see the figurative language, the specific term, the consequence, and the effect in the second of two parallel lines. That the biblical poets were not slaves of their poetic devices should encourage translators to experiment also. If in the receptor language intensification is sacrificed by the reversal, the translators may switch the lines. They should determine first what the difference in poetic meaning may be, if any.
The verb “to thunder” has been used of Yahweh in 1 Sam 2.10 and 7.10; Good News Translation “from the sky” and Revised Standard Version from heaven correspond to “in the heavens” in most of the Hebrew manuscripts of Psa 18.13. The LORD thundered may be unnatural in many languages, since only the sky is said to thunder. Therefore this expression may have to be recast as “The LORD spoke like thunder from the sky” or “When the LORD spoke it sounded like thunder.”
The Most High is sometimes rendered “God who is above all others” or “God who is the greatest god.” Curiously Good News Translation here translates “Almighty God” but renders the same term in Psa 18.13 more literally as “the Most High.” Translators are advised to be consistent, since the term is the same in the two parallel passages. In most languages a literal rendering will not be advisable.
Uttered his voice may be translated simply as “spoke,” but some versions consider that the context requires something stronger, such as “resounded” (New International Version) or “raised his voice” (Revised English Bible and New Century Version). The Hebrew verb is often translated “to give,” but it has a wide range of uses, depending on the context. For comments on the word voice, see verse 7.
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 .