Therefore: more literally “For truly.” The Hebrew expression here usually introduces a statement of later effects and is often translated “Therefore” or “That is why.” The transition words seem to have been completely dropped by Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version. Others have translated “indeed” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “also” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), “this is why” (New Century Version), “truly” (Anderson).

None: in many languages it will be impossible to say none without indicating what it is that does not resemble God. Does it mean “no other god,” “no other person,” or “no other thing”? The following phrase is more specific, showing that there is no other god. But if the language permits, it may be better to be more general, with something like “no other person” or “no other being.”

No God besides thee: in certain languages it will be better to rephrase this to say “you are the only [true] God.”

According to all that we have heard: among the more meaningful English renderings of this phrase are “as we have always heard” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “as everything that we have heard confirms” (New Jerusalem Bible).

The words with our ears are redundant, and it will be unnecessary and unnatural in many languages to include them. Readers will know that the ears are used for hearing, and the explicit use of these words may even sound funny.

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 .