# the house of your father

The word "house" is a metonym for the people who lived in the house, and "father" in this case refers to a distant ancestor. See how you translated this in [1 Samuel 2:27](../02/27.md). Alternate translation: "the family of your ancestor" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy]])

# should walk before me

This is an idiom that means "live in obedience to me." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom]])

# Far be it from me to do this

"I will certainly not allow your family to serve me forever"

# those who despise me will be lightly esteemed

The words "lightly esteemed" is an ironic euphemism for "greatly despised." This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I will lightly esteem those who despise me" or "I will greatly despise those who despise me" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-irony]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-euphemism]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive]])

