And: the conjunction simply marks the continuation of the story line. In some languages it may be translated “But” (New American Bible), “Then,” or possibly left untranslated. In some cases the beginning of a new paragraph will be sufficient to mark this transition.

Said: the verb used here is perhaps better translated “answered” (Revised English Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh as well as Good News Translation) or “replied” (New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible) in this context.

It was before the LORD: Good News Translation supplies the idea “I was dancing,” which is only implied in the Hebrew. It may be a good idea to make this information explicit in many other languages, as, in fact, some manuscripts of the Septuagint did. Instead of “I was dancing,” some have suggested “I exposed myself.” But it is probably better to say something like “that I acted in this way” (Bible en français courant) or “that I manifested my joy” (La Bible du Semeur). On the words before the LORD, see verse 16 as well as 3.28 and 1 Sam 1.19.

Above your father: different language may express this idea in a variety of ways. The idea is that of showing preference for one person over another in making a selection. The LORD decided that David rather than Saul should be king. David was also chosen above all his house, that is, in preference to anyone in the family of Saul. New American Bible says “who preferred me to your father and all his family.” Contemporary English Version rewords the first part of this sentence in a negative way: “The LORD didn’t choose your father or anyone else in your family to be the leader of his people. The LORD chose me….” This may prove to be a good model in some other languages.

Prince: see the comments on 1 Sam 9.16. The idea here is that of “leader” (New Jerusalem Bible), “ruler” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or “chief” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) rather than the son of a king. See 3.38.

Israel, the people of the LORD: these are two ways of referring to the same people. In some languages it may be better to combine them and say “the people of Israel” as in Good News Translation.

Make merry: see verse 5 as well as 2.14.

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 .