OET interlinear ISA 59:9

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

עַל כֵּ֗ן

on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in yes/correct/thus/so

Isaiah uses the word Therefore to indicate that what follows is a result of what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a result of what came before. Alternate translation: [As a result,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

רָחַ֤ק מִשְׁפָּט֙ מִמֶּ֔⁠נּוּ וְ⁠לֹ֥א תַשִּׂיגֵ֖⁠נוּ צְדָקָ֑ה

far justice from=him/it and=not it,reaches_us righteousness

Isaiah is speaking of two abstract nouns, justice and righteousness, as if they were living beings that could stay far away and fail to catch up with the people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [we do not receive what is just, and we do not experience what is right]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

רָחַ֤ק מִשְׁפָּט֙ מִמֶּ֔⁠נּוּ

far (Some words not found in UHB: on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in yes/correct/thus/so far justice from=him/it and=not it,reaches_us righteousness hope to_the=light and=see/lo/see! darkness for,gleams_of_light in,gloom(s) walk )

By us, Isaiah means to include both himself and those to whom he is speaking, so use the inclusive form of that word if your language marks that distinction. Alternate translation: [justice is far from us, the people of Israel]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

נְקַוֶּ֤ה לָ⁠אוֹר֙ וְ⁠הִנֵּה חֹ֔שֶׁךְ לִ⁠נְגֹה֖וֹת בָּ⁠אֲפֵל֥וֹת נְהַלֵּֽךְ

hope to_the=light and=see/lo/see! darkness for,gleams_of_light in,gloom(s) walk

Here Isaiah is speaking of deliverance and well-being as if they were light and brightness, and of trouble and distress as if they were darkness and gloom. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [We wait for deliverance, but behold, distress; for well-being, we experience trouble]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

נְקַוֶּ֤ה לָ⁠אוֹר֙ וְ⁠הִנֵּה־חֹ֔שֶׁךְ לִ⁠נְגֹה֖וֹת בָּ⁠אֲפֵל֥וֹת נְהַלֵּֽךְ

(Some words not found in UHB: on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in yes/correct/thus/so far justice from=him/it and=not it,reaches_us righteousness hope to_the=light and=see/lo/see! darkness for,gleams_of_light in,gloom(s) walk )

Isaiah 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: [We wait for light, but behold, darkness; we wait for brightness, but we walk in gloom]

Note 6 topic: writing-foreground

וְ⁠הִנֵּה

(Some words not found in UHB: on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in yes/correct/thus/so far justice from=him/it and=not it,reaches_us righteousness hope to_the=light and=see/lo/see! darkness for,gleams_of_light in,gloom(s) walk )

Isaiah 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: [but instead there is darkness]