OET interlinear NEH 2:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ לְ⁠עוֹלָ֣ם יִחְיֶ֑ה

the=king to,forever live

Nehemiah is showing honor to King Artaxerxes. Here, to eternity is an exaggeration that refers to a long life. Alternate translation: “Long live the king” or “May you have a long life”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ לְ⁠עוֹלָ֣ם יִחְיֶ֑ה

the=king to,forever live

Nehemiah addresses the king in the third person as a sign of respect. You can indicate this respect by adding an expression such as “Your Majesty.”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

מַדּ֜וּעַ לֹא־יֵרְע֣וּ פָנַ֗⁠י

why not sad face_of,my

Nehemiah is making a statement, not asking a question. He does not expect the king to give him reasons why he should not be sad. Instead, he is using the question form for emphasis. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: “I am sorry, but I cannot help being sad”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

מַדּ֜וּעַ לֹא־יֵרְע֣וּ פָנַ֗⁠י

why not sad face_of,my

Nehemiah refers to himself by one part of him, his face, because the face shows one’s emotions. Alternate translation: “I have very good reasons to be sad”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

מַדּ֜וּעַ לֹא־יֵרְע֣וּ פָנַ֗⁠י

why not sad face_of,my

Here, unpleasant refers to a person looking sad or upset. Alternate translation: “I have very good reasons to be sad”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

הָ⁠עִ֜יר & חֲרֵבָ֔ה

the=city & lies_in_ruins

The city means Jerusalem. If it would be helpful in your language, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “the city of Jerusalem … lies in ruins”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בֵּית־קִבְר֤וֹת אֲבֹתַ⁠י֙

house_of graves_of ancestors'_of,my

Here, house is a figurative way of referring to a place. Alternate translation: “the place where my ancestors are buried”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

בֵּית־קִבְר֤וֹת אֲבֹתַ⁠י֙

house_of graves_of ancestors'_of,my

Here, fathers means ancestors. Alternate translation: “the place where my ancestors are buried”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

וּ⁠שְׁעָרֶ֖י⁠הָ אֻכְּל֥וּ בָ⁠אֵֽשׁ

and,gates_of,its destroyed in/on/at/with,fire

If it would be helpful in your language, you could say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “fire has destroyed its gates” or “our enemies have burned its gates”