OET interlinear EZRA 3:11

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-time-sequential

וַֽ֠⁠יַּעֲנוּ

and,sang

The word then indicates that the sentence it introduces it will describe something that took place after the event the story has just related. If it would be helpful in your language, you could show this relationship by using an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “once all the musicians were in place, they sang back and forth”

וַֽ֠⁠יַּעֲנוּ

and,sang

Here, they refers to the Levite singers. In response probably means that first one group of them sang something, and then a second group of them sang something in reply, possibly playing instruments as well. The groups likely did this repeatedly over the course of a given song. Alternate translations: “Then the Levites sang responsively” or “Then the Levites sang antiphonally”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / quotemarks

כִּ֣י ט֔וֹב כִּֽי־לְ⁠עוֹלָ֥ם חַסְדּ֖⁠וֹ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל

that/for/because/then/when good that/for/because/then/when for,ever steadfast_love,his on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in Yisrael

This is at least part of the song that the Levites sang on this occasion. Based on their other occurrences in the Bible, these may be the words to a refrain that the second group sang in response to verses that the first group sang. Or this may be a song that was sung for this celebration. Either way, it may be helpful to your readers to indicate that these are the words of the singers by setting off them with quotation marks or with whatever other punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

כִּֽי־לְ⁠עוֹלָ֥ם חַסְדּ֖⁠וֹ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל

that/for/because/then/when for,ever steadfast_love,his on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in Yisrael

The abstract noun faithfulness describes the quality of a person who will dependably keep his word and fulfill his responsibilities. Covenant faithfulness refers specifically to Yahweh keeping all of the promises that he has made to the people of Israel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate the idea behind this word with an expression such as “keep promises.” Alternate translation: “because Yahweh always keeps the promises he made to Israel”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל

on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in Yisrael

Here, the name Israel stands for the Israelite people. Alternate translation: “to the people of Israel”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

עַ֖ל הוּסַ֥ד בֵּית־יְהוָֽה

on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in foundation_~_laid house_of YHWH

If it would be helpful in your language, you could say this with an active form, and you could say who did the action. Alternate translations: “because the builders had laid the foundation of Yahweh’s temple” or “because the builders had set the temple floor in stone”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

עַ֖ל הוּסַ֥ד בֵּית־יְהוָֽה

on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in foundation_~_laid house_of YHWH

As in 2:10, here there are the same two possibilities for the meaning of the foundation … had been laid. See how you translated it there. (1) This means that the workers had finished the foundation. Alternate translation: “because the builders had completed the floor of the temple of Yahweh” or (2) It means that they had started to lay the foundation, which was the first step in building the temple. Alternate translation: “because the builders had started to lay the foundation of the temple of Yahweh”