Make myself yet more contemptible: David is saying that he will go on celebrating even though this may be considered by Michal and others to bring added disgrace to him. New Jerusalem Bible translates “I will lower myself even further.”

I will be abased: this passive formulation may be made active with David himself as the agent. This is merely another way of saying what has already been said in the first part of the verse. In some cases it may be awkward to repeat the same idea.

In your eyes: this is the reading of the ancient Greek translation. The Hebrew has “in my eyes,” and this is recommended by Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, which gives a {C} rating to the Masoretic Text. Although some translations adopt the reading of the MT (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Fox, New Revised Standard Version, and Contemporary English Version), the vast majority of modern English versions follow the reading “in your eyes” (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, as well as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation). And this seems to fit the context better.

The maids: see verse 20.

The structure of this verse may need to be changed in some languages. A possible model is:

• “… I will continue to celebrate even though you think it makes me look foolish. You think I am a disgrace, but those young women you mentioned will honor me.”

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 .