OET interlinear NEH 5:9

uW Translation Notes:

לֹא־ט֥וֹב הַ⁠דָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֑ים

not good (Some words not found in UHB: and, not good the,thing which/who you(pl) doing am=not in,the_fear_of our_God_of,our walk from,the_reproach_of the=nations enemies_of,our )

In this context, good does have a moral connotation. Nehemiah is saying more than that this is not a good idea. Alternate translation: [What you are doing is wrong!]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

הֲ⁠ל֞וֹא בְּ⁠יִרְאַ֤ת אֱלֹהֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙ תֵּלֵ֔כוּ מֵ⁠חֶרְפַּ֖ת הַ⁠גּוֹיִ֥ם אוֹיְבֵֽי⁠נוּ

am=not (Some words not found in UHB: and, not good the,thing which/who you(pl) doing am=not in,the_fear_of our_God_of,our walk from,the_reproach_of the=nations enemies_of,our )

Nehemiah is making a statement, not asking a question. He does not expect the accused to give him reasons why they should not obey God. Instead, he is using the question form to emphasize how important it is for these wealthy and powerful Jews to stop doing these wrong things. Alternate translation: [You really ought to live your life in a way that honors God!]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

הֲ⁠ל֞וֹא בְּ⁠יִרְאַ֤ת אֱלֹהֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙ תֵּלֵ֔כוּ

am=not (Some words not found in UHB: and, not good the,thing which/who you(pl) doing am=not in,the_fear_of our_God_of,our walk from,the_reproach_of the=nations enemies_of,our )

In this context, fear does not mean to be afraid. It means to show respect and reverence, specifically by obeying instead of disobeying. Alternate translation: [live your life in a way that honors God]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

תֵּלֵ֔כוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: and, not good the,thing which/who you(pl) doing am=not in,the_fear_of our_God_of,our walk from,the_reproach_of the=nations enemies_of,our )

Here, walk is an idiom that describes a person’s conduct in life. Alternate translation: [live your life]

מֵ⁠חֶרְפַּ֖ת הַ⁠גּוֹיִ֥ם אוֹיְבֵֽי⁠נוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: and, not good the,thing which/who you(pl) doing am=not in,the_fear_of our_God_of,our walk from,the_reproach_of the=nations enemies_of,our )

This may be a reference to the way the enemies of the Jews were already mocking them, or to the way they would mock them if they learned of what was happening. It could mean both things. Alternate translation: [Otherwise, our enemies will mock us even more]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מֵ⁠חֶרְפַּ֖ת הַ⁠גּוֹיִ֥ם אוֹיְבֵֽי⁠נוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: and, not good the,thing which/who you(pl) doing am=not in,the_fear_of our_God_of,our walk from,the_reproach_of the=nations enemies_of,our )

Reproach is an abstract noun that refers to the way the enemies of the Jews were mocking them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate the same idea with a verb such as “mock.” Alternate translation: [to keep the nations who are our enemies from mocking us]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

הַ⁠גּוֹיִ֥ם אוֹיְבֵֽי⁠נוּ

the=nations enemies_of,our

These two short phrases mean similar things. Nehemiah uses them together to emphasize the identity and hostility of the people who are opposing the Jews. If it would be helpful in your language, you could combine them. Alternate translation: [our enemies]