New International VersionHe answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’
New Living TranslationDavid replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the LORD will be gracious to me and let the child live.’
English Standard VersionHe said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
Berean Standard BibleDavid answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’
King James BibleAnd he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell
whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
New King James VersionAnd he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell
whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
New American Standard BibleAnd he said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, and the child may live.’
NASB 1995He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’
NASB 1977And he said, “While the child was
still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’
Legacy Standard BibleThen he said, “While the child was
still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, Yahweh may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’
Amplified BibleDavid said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I thought, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me and the child may live.’
Christian Standard BibleHe answered, “While the baby was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’
Holman Christian Standard BibleHe answered, “While the baby was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’
American Standard VersionAnd he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knoweth whether Jehovah will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?
Contemporary English VersionDavid answered: While he was still alive, I went without food and cried because there was still hope. I said to myself, "Who knows? Maybe the LORD will have pity on me and let the child live."
English Revised VersionAnd he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knoweth whether the LORD will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?
GOD'S WORD® TranslationDavid answered, "As long as the child was alive, I fasted and cried. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.'
Good News Translation"Yes," David answered, "I did fast and weep while he was still alive. I thought that the LORD might be merciful to me and not let the child die.
International Standard VersionHe answered, "When the child was alive, I fasted and cried. I asked myself, 'Who knows? Maybe the LORD will show grace to me and the child will live.'
NET BibleHe replied, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, 'Perhaps the LORD will show pity and the child will live.
New Heart English BibleHe said, "While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who knows whether the LORD will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?'
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted, and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard BibleDavid answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’
World English BibleHe said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard VersionAnd he says, “While the boy is alive I have fasted and I weep, for I said, Who knows [if] YHWH pities me and the boy has lived?
Young's Literal Translation And he saith, 'While the lad is alive I have fasted, and weep, for I said, Who knoweth? -- Jehovah doth pity me, and the lad hath lived;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd he will say, The child yet living, and I fasted and wept; for I said, Who will know Jehovah will compassionate me, and the child live?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he said: While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept for him: for I said: Who knoweth whether the Lord may not give him to me, and the child may live?
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd he said: “While he was yet alive, I fasted and wept on behalf of the infant. For I said: Who knows if the Lord may perhaps give him to me, and let the infant live?
New American BibleHe replied: “While the child was living, I fasted and wept, thinking, ‘Who knows? The LORD may grant me the child’s life.’
New Revised Standard VersionHe said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me, and the child may live.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa BibleDavid said to them, While the child was still alive, I fasted and prayed; for I said, Who knows whether God will be gracious to me, and let the child live?
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedDavid said to them: “When the boy lived, I was fasting and praying because I was saying, ‘Who knows if God has compassion for him and the boy lives?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917And he said: 'While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said: Who knoweth whether the LORD will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd David said, While the child yet lived, I fasted and wept; for I said, Who knows if the Lord will pity me, and the child live?
Additional Translations ... 
