OET interlinear NEH 2:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וָ⁠אָק֣וּם ׀ לַ֗יְלָה

and,got_up night

The implication is that Nehemiah went out to inspect the city walls, as described in 1:13–15(../01/13.md). The implication is also that he did this at night so that no one would know he was doing it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “I got up secretly in the night to inspect the city walls.”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

אֲנִי֮ וַ⁠אֲנָשִׁ֣ים ׀ מְעַט֮ עִמִּ⁠י֒

I and,men a_few with,me

The word men here could conceivably include both men and women. However, for a nighttime mission through the ruins of the city walls, it’s likely that Nehemiah brought along only other men. So in this context you could use a word that indicates that. Alternate translation: “I brought only a few other men with me.”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

וְ⁠לֹא־הִגַּ֣דְתִּי לְ⁠אָדָ֔ם מָ֗ה אֱלֹהַ⁠י֙ נֹתֵ֣ן אֶל־לִבִּ֔⁠י לַ⁠עֲשׂ֖וֹת לִ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם

and=not tell to/for=ʼĀdām/humankind what God_of,my put to/towards heart_of,my for=doing for,Jerusalem

Probably Nehemiah told at least some people, since he brought a few men with him when he went out to inspect the walls. So “not … anyone” might be an exaggeration that emphasizes the secrecy Nehemiah maintained. Alternate translation: “I did not say publicly what God had led me to do for Jerusalem.”

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

וְ⁠לֹא־הִגַּ֣דְתִּי לְ⁠אָדָ֔ם מָ֗ה אֱלֹהַ⁠י֙ נֹתֵ֣ן אֶל־לִבִּ֔⁠י לַ⁠עֲשׂ֖וֹת לִ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם

and=not tell to/for=ʼĀdām/humankind what God_of,my put to/towards heart_of,my for=doing for,Jerusalem

If it would be helpful in your language, you could give this explanation before describing Nehemiah’s nighttime mission, because it is the reason that explains the result of him maintaining so much secrecy.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מָ֗ה אֱלֹהַ⁠י֙ נֹתֵ֣ן אֶל־לִבִּ֔⁠י לַ⁠עֲשׂ֖וֹת

what God_of,my put to/towards heart_of,my for=doing

Here, Nehemiah’s heart represents his thoughts and will. Alternate translation: “what God had inspired me to do” or “what God had led me to do”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וּ⁠בְהֵמָה֙ אֵ֣ין עִמִּ֔⁠י

and,animal not with,me

The implication is that this was another measure to maintain secrecy. If it would be helpful in your language, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “To keep things quiet, there were no other animals with me”