OET interlinear ISA 21:9

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-foreground

וְ⁠הִנֵּה

and=see/lo/see!

The watchman is using the term behold to focus his listeners’ attention on what he is about to say. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. Alternate translation: [And look]

Note 2 topic: writing-quotations

וַ⁠יַּ֣עַן וַ⁠יֹּ֗אמֶר

and,he_answered and=he/it_said

The phrase And he answered and said introduces a direct quotation. In your translation, use a natural way of introducing direct quotations in your language. It may not be necessary to represent this phrase explicitly.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / reduplication

נָפְלָ֤ה נָֽפְלָה֙ בָּבֶ֔ל

fallen fallen Bāⱱel

The speaker is repeating the verb fallen in order to intensify his expression of the idea that it conveys. If your language can repeat words for intensification, it would be appropriate to do that here in your translation. If not, your language may have another way of expressing the intensification. Alternate translation: [Babylon has certainly fallen!]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

נָפְלָ֤ה נָֽפְלָה֙ בָּבֶ֔ל

fallen fallen Bāⱱel

Babylon here represents the Babylonian empire and its government. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [The Babylonian empire has fallen, has fallen]

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

שִׁבַּ֥ר

shattered

The word one does not refer to a specific person. It refers generally to the conquering forces. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [they have shattered]