In some languages it may be quite appropriate to combine the verbs said and gave … his oath into a single verb or verb phrase. For example, it may be possible to introduce the direct quotation with a verb like “promised,” “pledged,” or “committed himself.”

Once again the repetition of the word king may be intended to underline the fact that David’s authority is assured. But translators should ensure that the resulting rendering is natural in their language.

Perhaps it will be more natural in some cases to give the content of David’s commitment to Shimei in the form of an indirect quotation rather than a direct one. In this case translators may say something like “the king promised Shimei with an oath that he would not kill him.”

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 .