OET interlinear PSA 137:5

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

אִֽם־אֶשְׁכָּחֵ֥⁠ךְ יְֽרוּשָׁלִָ֗ם תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח יְמִינִֽ⁠י

if (Some words not found in UHB: if I,will_forget_you Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) forget hand_of,my_right )

The psalmist is presenting a possible condition and its consequence. He says that if he forgets Jerusalem, then his right hand should no longer be able to play the harp. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a condition that could happen. Alternate translation: [If I forget you, Jerusalem, then let my right hand forget]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

אִֽם־אֶשְׁכָּחֵ֥⁠ךְ

if (Some words not found in UHB: if I,will_forget_you Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) forget hand_of,my_right )

Here the psalmist shifts from speaking about the community as “we” in the previous verses to speaking as an individual using the pronoun I. He is making a personal vow.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח יְמִינִֽ⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: if I,will_forget_you Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) forget hand_of,my_right )

The psalmist is using let my right hand forget as a common expression of the culture to mean that his hand would lose its ability to play a musical instrument. If this phrase does not have that meaning for your readers, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [let my right hand lose its skill] or [let my right hand wither]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח יְמִינִֽ⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: if I,will_forget_you Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) forget hand_of,my_right )

The psalmist is saying what he wants to happen if he breaks his vow. See the discussion in the introduction to this book about “let” and “may” and follow the decision of your team of how a speaker will express in this context what he wants someone to do. Alternate translation: [I desire that my right hand would forget] or [may my right hand forget]