But translates the common Hebrew conjunction. Here it introduces contrast between the righteous rulers mentioned previously and godless men.

Godless men: see the comments at 16.7 (“worthless fellow”); 20.1; 1 Sam 1.16; 2.12. There is no particular emphasis on the maleness of these people. So instead of men, a more neutral term meaning “human beings” should probably be employed. It may also be important in certain languages to specify in what way these people are like thorns (literally “like a thorn [or, thornbush]”). They are at the same time both worthless and dangerous.

They cannot be taken with the hand: this passive expression may be easily made active, either as Good News Translation has done or by saying “no one can pick them up using only their hands.” In Hebrew the verb translated be taken is in the active voice, and the subject is indefinite third person plural. A more literal translation is “they do not take them with the hand.” Some interpreters, however, suggest that this verb is an unusual passive form, and that the subject is “the thorns.”

A possible model for the verse as a whole is:

• Bad people are like thorns; they are good for nothing, so they should be destroyed, but people cannot pick them up with their hands because they are dangerous.

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 .