Footnotes in both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation state that the Masoretic Text says “and do not turn aside because after vain things.” It is difficult to see how the conjunction “because” can be translated here. All translations seem to omit it, and translators in other languages will probably do so also. It should be noted, however, that the Hebrew word ky may be understood as a demonstrative particle expressing a strong positive statement here, rather than as a conjunction meaning “because.” Fox, for example, says “You are not to turn-aside, indeed, after the (gods of) confusion.”

The verb rendered turn aside after means to leave one thing for the purpose of following another. In this context it may be translated “abandon” or “desert” (Knox), “transfer your allegiance” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “swerve in search of” (Moffatt).

Vain things: literally “nothingness.” This term refers to “false gods” in Isa 41.29; 44.9. New International Version renders the term here in 1 Samuel “useless idols.” Some other renderings are “sham gods” (Revised English Bible) and “meaningless idols” (New American Bible). The repetition at the end of the verse of the fact that these idols are vain is intentional and is meant to emphasize the uselessness of all gods other than Yahweh. New American Bible translates “they are nothing.”

The words which cannot profit speak of bringing no benefit or doing no good. But this is not primarily a reference to material benefit. The term used in translation should have a more general meaning.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .