OET interlinear NUM 23:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

וַ⁠יַּ֖עַן וַ⁠יֹּאמַ֑ר

and,he_answered and,he_said

The terms answered and said introduces a direct quotation. In your translation, use a natural way of introducing direct quotations in your language. It may not be necessary to represent this term explicitly.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

הֲ⁠לֹ֗א אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׂ֤ים יְהוָה֙ בְּ⁠פִ֔⁠י אֹת֥⁠וֹ אֶשְׁמֹ֖ר לְ⁠דַבֵּֽר

?,not DOM which/who puts YHWH in,mouth_of,my DOM=him/it take_care to,speak

Balaam is using the question form to emphasize that he must say only what Yahweh tells him to say. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: [I must be sure to speak only what Yahweh puts in my mouth!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

יָשִׂ֤ים יְהוָה֙ בְּ⁠פִ֔⁠י

puts YHWH in,mouth_of,my

The phrase puts in my mouth represents what Yahweh tells Balaam to say. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [Yahweh commands me to speak]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

אֹת֥⁠וֹ אֶשְׁמֹ֖ר לְ⁠דַבֵּֽר

DOM=him/it (Some words not found in UHB: and,he_answered and,he_said ?,not DOM which/who puts YHWH in,mouth_of,my DOM=him/it take_care to,speak )

If it would be more natural in your language, you may want to put the information about Balaam speaking before the information about it. Alternate translation: [Shall I not be careful to speak what Yahweh puts in my mouth?]