OET interlinear EST 8:5

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ ט֜וֹב & וְ⁠כָשֵׁ֤ר הַ⁠דָּבָר֙ לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ

if on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the=king good & and,it_is_proper the,matter to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before the=king

These two phrases mean basically the same thing. Esther is saying very deferentially that she hopes that the king will think that her suggestion is a good idea and will, therefore, grant her request. Esther uses the repetition to emphasize the importance of what she is expressing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could combine the phrases. Alternate translation: [if what I am going to suggest seems like a good idea to you]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

וְ⁠אִם־מָצָ֧אתִי חֵ֣ן לְ⁠פָנָ֗י⁠ו & וְ⁠טוֹבָ֥ה אֲנִ֖י בְּ⁠עֵינָ֑י⁠ו

and=if found graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty before,,him & and_[am],good I in,eyes_of,his

These two phrases mean basically the same thing. Esther is saying very deferentially that she hopes that the king is positively disposed towards her, that he thinks well of her, and will, therefore, grant her request. Esther uses the repetition to emphasize the importance of what she is expressing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could combine the phrases. Alternate translation: [if you are pleased with me]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ ט֜וֹב וְ⁠אִם־מָצָ֧אתִי חֵ֣ן לְ⁠פָנָ֗י⁠ו

if on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the=king good and=if found graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty before,,him

Here Esther addresses the king throughout in the third person as a way of showing respect. You could express the same meaning in the second person, as in the UST.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ ט֜וֹב

if on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the=king good

This is an idiom that also appears in [1:19](../01/19.md), [3:9](../03/09.md), [5:4](../05/04.md), and [5:8](../05/08.md). A suggested translation in those cases was, “If it seems like a good idea to you, O king.” That was suitable for the deferential tone the speakers were using. But in another place, [7:3](../07/03.md), when Esther was pleading urgently for the survival of her whole people, the suggested alternate translation was, “I hope you will be willing to do what I ask” Here, Esther is also pleading, so you could use that phrase here in your translation as well. Alternate translation: [if what I ask for seems right in the king’s evaluation]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וְ⁠אִם־מָצָ֧אתִי חֵ֣ן

and=if found graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty

This expression also appears many times in the story. It means to gain the approval or acceptance of another person. Alternate translation: [if you are pleased with me]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לְ⁠פָנָ֗י⁠ו & לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ

before,,him & to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before the=king

Here, face means the presence of a person. These phrases could mean “as I stand here before you.” But “face” could also be referring to the king himself by naming one part of him. What he thought and felt about Esther’s request would become evident in his face first, so it would be an appropriate part of him to use to represent all of him. Alternate translation: [you]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּ⁠עֵינָ֑י⁠ו

in,eyes_of,his

Here, eyes represent the action of seeing, and seeing is a metaphor for knowledge, notice, attention, or judgment. Alternate translation: [if you evaluate me and I please you] or [if you are pleased with me]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

יִכָּתֵ֞ב לְ⁠הָשִׁ֣יב אֶת־הַ⁠סְּפָרִ֗ים

written to,revoke DOM the,letters

The first letters that told of the plan to destroy the Jews would not be brought back to Susa physically. Rather, bring back is an idiom that means “cancel” or “revoke.” Alternate translation: [make a new law to cancel what Haman decreed]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

יִכָּתֵ֞ב לְ⁠הָשִׁ֣יב אֶת־הַ⁠סְּפָרִ֗ים

written to,revoke DOM the,letters

You can say this with an active form. Alternate translation: [write a new letter] or [make a new law]