OET interlinear NEH 8:10

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וַ⁠יֹּ֣אמֶר לָ⁠הֶ֡ם

and=he/it_said to/for=them

The story does not specify who said this. However, it is probably either Nehemiah or Ezra, since they are named at the beginning of the previous verse. And since what follow are instructions for how to observe a religious occasion, it is most likely Ezra. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could suggest that. Alternate translation: “Ezra told them”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לְכוּ֩ אִכְל֨וּ מַשְׁמַנִּ֜ים וּ⁠שְׁת֣וּ מַֽמְתַקִּ֗ים

go eat fat and,drink sweet

This could mean, “Go home” and do this, since the people would likely have their holiday meals at home. Or it could mean, “Go ahead” and do this, even though you are feeling sad. Alternate translation: “Go home and celebrate with a good meal” or “Go ahead, celebrate with a good meal.”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

אִכְל֨וּ מַשְׁמַנִּ֜ים וּ⁠שְׁת֣וּ מַֽמְתַקִּ֗ים

eat fat and,drink sweet

The fat and the sweet are figurative ways of referring to food and drink that is particularly tasty and shared in celebrations. The speaker is describing this food and drink by things associated with it, the fatness and the sweetness. Alternate translation: “Celebrate with a good meal.”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

אִכְל֨וּ מַשְׁמַנִּ֜ים וּ⁠שְׁת֣וּ מַֽמְתַקִּ֗ים

eat fat and,drink sweet

Eating and drinking are used together here to convey a single idea, celebrating. If it would be helpful in your language, you could combine them into a single phrase. Alternate translation: “Celebrate with a good meal.”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

וְ⁠שִׁלְח֤וּ מָנוֹת֙ לְ⁠אֵ֣ין נָכ֣וֹן ל֔⁠וֹ

and,send portions to,nothing prepared to=him/it

If it would be helpful in your language, you could say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “Share some of your meal with those who have not prepared anything for themselves”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וְ⁠שִׁלְח֤וּ מָנוֹת֙ לְ⁠אֵ֣ין נָכ֣וֹן ל֔⁠וֹ

and,send portions to,nothing prepared to=him/it

This may actually refer to the poor and indicate that they would not be able to afford rich food and drink. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “share some of your meal with the poor, who cannot afford rich food and drink.”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

כִּֽי־קָד֥וֹשׁ הַ⁠יּ֖וֹם לַ⁠אֲדֹנֵ֑י⁠נוּ

that/for/because/then/when holy the=day to,Lord_of,our

These two phrases mean similar things. As in 8:9, together they mean, “This is a special day for worshiping our Lord.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could combine these phrases like that.

Note 8 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

כִּֽי־קָד֥וֹשׁ הַ⁠יּ֖וֹם לַ⁠אֲדֹנֵ֑י⁠נוּ

that/for/because/then/when holy the=day to,Lord_of,our

If it would be helpful in your language, you could move this phrase to the beginning of the quotation because it gives the reason for the resulting actions that are described in the rest of the quotation. You could also connect this phrase to the ones that would then follow with a word like “so,” to show the connection. Alternate translation: “Today is a holy day set apart to worship our Lord. So …”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

וְ⁠אַל־תֵּ֣עָצֵ֔בוּ

and,not grieved

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this same idea with an active form, and you could say what is causing the action. Alternate translation: “You have recognized that you have not obeyed the Law of Moses, but do not let that make you sad”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

כִּֽי־חֶדְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה הִ֥יא מָֽעֻזְּ⁠כֶֽם

that/for/because/then/when that/for/because/then/when joy_of YHWH she/it strength_of,your_all's

The implication is that if a person is truly sorry for disobeying, Yahweh does not want that person to fear punishment or to grieve for the way they have offended. Instead, Yahweh wants them to be encouraged that they can live in a new way and to be happy about that. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “because Yahweh wants you to be happy and encouraged about living in a new way”

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

חֶדְוַ֥ת & מָֽעֻזְּ⁠כֶֽם

joy_of & strength_of,your_all's

If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate the ideas behind the abstract nouns joy and strength with adjectives. Alternate translation: “happy … encouraged”