OET interlinear PRO 4:18

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠אֹ֣רַח צַ֭דִּיקִים

and,path_of righteous

Here, the path could refer to: (1) the things that people experience during their lives. Alternate translation: “But what the righteous ones experience” (2) how people behave, as it does in [1:15](../01/15.md). Alternate translation: “But the lifestyle of the righteous ones”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

כְּ⁠א֣וֹר נֹ֑גַהּ

like,light_of dawn

Here, the light of brightness could refer to the first sunlight that appears in the morning. In this case, it would contrast with the full light when the day is established. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “is like the light of dawn” or “is like the first sunlight in the morning”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

כְּ⁠א֣וֹר נֹ֑גַהּ

like,light_of dawn

Here Solomon compares the path of the righteous ones to the light of the sun in the morning. He means that righteous people are safe because they understand what God wants them to do during their lives, just like people can walk safely on a path because the light enables them to see where they are going. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “is safe”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וָ֝⁠א֗וֹר עַד־נְכ֥וֹן הַ⁠יּֽוֹם

leading and,shining until full_of the=day

The phrase the day is established refers to the time of day when the sun shines the brightest. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “going and shining until the sun shines the brightest” or “going and shining brighter until full daylight”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וָ֝⁠א֗וֹר עַד־נְכ֥וֹן הַ⁠יּֽוֹם

leading and,shining until full_of the=day

Here Solomon continues the comparison of the path of the righteous ones to the light of the sun. Just like the sunlight shines increasingly brighter from sunrise until the middle of the day, so also the righteous ones increase in wisdom and safety as they understand more and more of how God wants them to live. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the path of the righteous leading to more and more wisdom and safety just as the path of the sun leads to more and more light until midday”