OET interlinear HAB 3:19

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יְהוִ֤הּ אֲדֹנָ⁠י֙ חֵילִ֔⁠י

GOD my=master strength_of,[is]_my

Here Habakkuk is speaking of Yahweh the Lord as if he were strength itself. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Yahweh the Lord strengthens me]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

וַ⁠יָּ֤שֶׂם רַגְלַ⁠י֙ כָּֽ⁠אַיָּל֔וֹת

(Some words not found in UHB: GOD my=master strength_of,[is]_my and=he/it_assigned feet_of,my like,does and,on places_of,my_high he,makes_me_tread to,choirmaster with,stringed_instruments )

The point of this comparison is that just as deer are able to walk with sure footing on steep and rocky terrain, so God gives Habakkuk the same kind of stability and confidence. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: [and he made my feet as sure-footed as deer’s feet]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

וַ⁠יָּ֤שֶׂם רַגְלַ⁠י֙ כָּֽ⁠אַיָּל֔וֹת

(Some words not found in UHB: GOD my=master strength_of,[is]_my and=he/it_assigned feet_of,my like,does and,on places_of,my_high he,makes_me_tread to,choirmaster with,stringed_instruments )

Habakkuk is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [and he made my feet like the feet of the deer]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠עַ֥ל בָּמוֹתַ֖⁠י יַדְרִכֵ֑⁠נִי

and,on (Some words not found in UHB: GOD my=master strength_of,[is]_my and=he/it_assigned feet_of,my like,does and,on places_of,my_high he,makes_me_tread to,choirmaster with,stringed_instruments )

Here Habakkuk is speaking of positions of safety and victory as if they were high places on which he could walk. If this image communicates well in your language, please use it. If not, you could express this as a comparison. Alternate translation: [and in my places of safety he enables me to walk securely]

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

לַ⁠מְנַצֵּ֖חַ

(Some words not found in UHB: GOD my=master strength_of,[is]_my and=he/it_assigned feet_of,my like,does and,on places_of,my_high he,makes_me_tread to,choirmaster with,stringed_instruments )

Here, the chief musician refers to a person who directed the singing and playing of music at the temple. This closing line indicates that the prayer in verses 1–19 was intended for use in temple worship. If your readers would not be familiar with this role, you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [For the music director] or [For the worship leader]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

בִּ⁠נְגִינוֹתָֽי

(Some words not found in UHB: GOD my=master strength_of,[is]_my and=he/it_assigned feet_of,my like,does and,on places_of,my_high he,makes_me_tread to,choirmaster with,stringed_instruments )

Here, my stringed instruments refers to stringed musical instruments used in worship. This indicates how the prayer of verses 1–19 was to be accompanied. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of instrument, you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [to be accompanied by my stringed instruments] or [with music from stringed instruments]