OET interlinear PSA 140:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

שָׁמְרֵ֤⁠נִי יְהוָ֨ה ׀ מִ֘⁠ידֵ֤י רָשָׁ֗ע מֵ⁠אִ֣ישׁ חֲמָסִ֣ים תִּנְצְרֵ֑⁠נִי

(Some words not found in UHB: make_~_sharp tongue_of,their as snake's venom_of vipers below/instead_of lips_of,their selah )

See how your translation team has decided to represent pairs of phrases in Hebrew poetry that mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: [Yahweh, guard me and preserve me from wicked, violent people]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

שָׁמְרֵ֤⁠נִי

(Some words not found in UHB: make_~_sharp tongue_of,their as snake's venom_of vipers below/instead_of lips_of,their selah )

This is an imperative, but it communicates a polite request rather than a command. If the imperative does not communicate a polite request for your readers, then use a form in your language that communicates a polite request. It may be helpful to add an expression such as “please” to make this clear. Alternate translation: [Please guard me]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

מִ֘⁠ידֵ֤י רָשָׁ֗ע

(Some words not found in UHB: make_~_sharp tongue_of,their as snake's venom_of vipers below/instead_of lips_of,their selah )

Here, the hands of the wicked represents their power and control. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [from the control of the wicked]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

רָשָׁ֗ע

(Some words not found in UHB: make_~_sharp tongue_of,their as snake's venom_of vipers below/instead_of lips_of,their selah )

David is using the adjective wicked as a noun to mean a certain kind of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this adjective with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [those who are wicked]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

מֵ⁠אִ֣ישׁ חֲמָסִ֣ים

(Some words not found in UHB: make_~_sharp tongue_of,their as snake's venom_of vipers below/instead_of lips_of,their selah )

David is using the possessive form to describe the man who is characterized by violence. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the violent man]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מֵ⁠אִ֣ישׁ חֲמָסִ֣ים

(Some words not found in UHB: make_~_sharp tongue_of,their as snake's venom_of vipers below/instead_of lips_of,their selah )

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of violence, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [from the man who acts violently]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

מֵ⁠אִ֣ישׁ

(Some words not found in UHB: make_~_sharp tongue_of,their as snake's venom_of vipers below/instead_of lips_of,their selah )

The psalmist is not referring to a specific man. He means people in general. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use an expression that would be more natural in your language. Alternate translation: [from anyone of]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

תִּנְצְרֵ֑⁠נִי

(Some words not found in UHB: make_~_sharp tongue_of,their as snake's venom_of vipers below/instead_of lips_of,their selah )

This is an imperative, but it communicates a polite request rather than a command. If the imperative does not communicate a polite request for your readers, then use a form in your language that communicates a polite request. It may be helpful to add an expression such as “please” to make this clear. Alternate translation: [please preserve me]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָ֝שְׁב֗וּ לִ⁠דְח֥וֹת פְּעָמָֽ⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: make_~_sharp tongue_of,their as snake's venom_of vipers below/instead_of lips_of,their selah )

David is speaking of his way of life as if it were a path with steps that his enemies could push down. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [who have planned to ruin my life]

Note 10 topic: writing-pronouns

אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָ֝שְׁב֗וּ

(Some words not found in UHB: make_~_sharp tongue_of,their as snake's venom_of vipers below/instead_of lips_of,their selah )

The word who refers to the wicked and the man of violence. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [the wicked people that have planned]