OET interlinear 1COR 3:20

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

καὶ πάλιν

and again

In Paul’s culture, And again is a normal way to introduce another quotation from an important text that supports the same point. In this case, Paul quotes from the Old Testament book titled “Psalms” (See: Psalm 94:11). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express And again with a comparable phrase that indicates that Paul is introducing another quotation from an important text. Alternate translation: “In another place in the Old Testament it can be read” or “And the book of Psalms also says”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / quotations

Κύριος γινώσκει τοὺς διαλογισμοὺς τῶν σοφῶν, ὅτι εἰσὶν μάταιοι

/the/_Lord /is/_knowing the speculations ˱of˲_the wise that ˱they˲_are useless

If you cannot use this form in your language, you could translate these statements as indirect quotes instead of as direct quotes. Alternate translation: “that the Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are futile”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicitinfo

γινώσκει τοὺς διαλογισμοὺς τῶν σοφῶν, ὅτι εἰσὶν μάταιοι

/is/_knowing the speculations ˱of˲_the wise that ˱they˲_are useless

If the form the reasonings of the wise, that they would be redundant in your language, you could express the idea without the redundant words. Alternate translation: “knows that the reasonings of the wise are futile”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τοὺς διαλογισμοὺς τῶν σοφῶν

the speculations ˱of˲_the wise

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind reasonings, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “reason” or “plan.” Alternate translation: “the things that the wise reason” or “the things that the wise plan”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

τῶν σοφῶν

˱of˲_the wise

Paul is using the adjective wise as a noun in order to describe a group of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this adjective with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: “of wise people” or “of those who are wise”

εἰσὶν μάταιοι

˱they˲_are useless

Alternate translation: “they will come to nothing” or “they are worthless”