OET interlinear ISA 28:15

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

כִּ֣י

that/for/because/then/when

The word translated as For indicates that what follows is a reason for what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: [Because]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

כָּרַ֤תְנֽוּ בְרִית֙ אֶת־מָ֔וֶת וְ⁠עִם־שְׁא֖וֹל עָשִׂ֣ינוּ חֹזֶ֑ה

made covenant DOM death and,with shəʼōl made agreement

See how your translation team has decided to represent pairs of clauses in Hebrew poetry that mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: [We have reached an agreement to avoid death and the grave]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

כָּרַ֤תְנֽוּ בְרִית֙ אֶת מָ֔וֶת

made covenant DOM death

The leaders of Jerusalem are speaking of death as if it were a living thing that could enter into a covenant. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [We have made arrangements so that death will not touch us]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

וְ⁠עִם שְׁא֖וֹל עָשִׂ֣ינוּ חֹזֶ֑ה

and,with shəʼōl made agreement

The leaders of Jerusalem are speaking of Sheol as if it were a living thing that could make an agreement. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and we have made an agreement with those in Sheol]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

עָשִׂ֣ינוּ חֹזֶ֑ה

made agreement

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of agreement, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [we have agreed]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

שׁ֣וֹט שׁוֹטֵ֤ף

(Some words not found in UHB: that/for/because/then/when said made covenant DOM death and,with shəʼōl made agreement scourge overwhelming that/for/because/then/when passes_through not it,will_come_to_us that/for/because/then/when made lies refuge_of,our and,in,deception hidden )

The leaders of Jerusalem are speaking as if a military invasion were the overflowing scourge, that is, a flood that sweeps everything in its path. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [The overwhelming military force]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

שַׂ֧מְנוּ כָזָ֛ב מַחְסֵ֖⁠נוּ וּ⁠בַ⁠שֶּׁ֥קֶר נִסְתָּֽרְנוּ

made lies refuge_of,our and,in,deception hidden

The leaders of Jerusalem are speaking as if their deception were a physical refuge and a place where they have hidden themselves. They mean that their lies and false alliances will protect them. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [we have trusted in our lies to protect us, and we have relied on our falsehood to hide us from harm]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מַחְסֵ֖⁠נוּ

refuge_of,our

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of refuge, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [what protects us]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וּ⁠בַ⁠שֶּׁ֥קֶר

and,in,deception

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of falsehood, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [and by falsifying information]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

כָזָ֛ב מַחְסֵ֖⁠נוּ וּ⁠בַ⁠שֶּׁ֥קֶר

lies refuge_of,our and,in,deception

The terms lying and falsehood mean similar things. The leaders of Jerusalem are using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [deceiving our refuge, and in deception]