Girded his sword: since the pronoun may be misunderstood, it may be better to say “Saul’s sword” as in Good News Translation. And the verb girded is somewhat archaic. New Revised Standard Version has replaced it with “strapped.” Some other renderings are “fastened” (Revised English Bible) and “buckled” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Tried in vain to go: some languages may have to restructure considerably in order to convey the idea of doing something in vain. The words in vain are not actually a part of the Hebrew text but are supplied by Revised Standard Version because they are implied by the context. The idea is that David attempted to move around or to walk, but was unable to do so. He was probably not completely immobile but simply unable to move freely and normally.

For I am not used to them: gives David’s reason for his inability to move about with ease. It is a repetition of what the writer has already said. In other languages this idea will have to be expressed quite differently. Some may use a habitual form of the verb, “I do not [habitually] wear these things.” Others may say something like “It is not my usual custom to wear such things.”

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 .