OET interlinear PSA 141:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

אַל־תַּט־לִבִּ֨⁠י לְ⁠דָבָ֪ר ׀ רָ֡ע

not (Some words not found in UHB: not incline heart_of,my to,anything evil to,practice deeds in,wickedness DOM men work_of iniquity and,not eat in,delicacies_of,their )

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 do not turn my heart toward an evil thing]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אַל־תַּט־לִבִּ֨⁠י לְ⁠דָבָ֪ר ׀ רָ֡ע

not (Some words not found in UHB: not incline heart_of,my to,anything evil to,practice deeds in,wickedness DOM men work_of iniquity and,not eat in,delicacies_of,their )

Here the heart represents where a person’s desires and inclinations exist. David is speaking as if someone could turn his heart in a direction toward evil, meaning his desires could be directed toward wrongdoing. You may have a comparable expression in your language, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Do not cause me to desire an evil thing] or [Do not direct my desires toward an evil thing]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

בְּ⁠רֶ֗שַׁע

(Some words not found in UHB: not incline heart_of,my to,anything evil to,practice deeds in,wickedness DOM men work_of iniquity and,not eat in,delicacies_of,their )

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of wickedness, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [in wicked ways]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

אֶת־אִישִׁ֥ים פֹּֽעֲלֵי־אָ֑וֶן

DOM (Some words not found in UHB: not incline heart_of,my to,anything evil to,practice deeds in,wickedness DOM men work_of iniquity and,not eat in,delicacies_of,their )

Here the masculine term men has a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use language in your translation that is clearly inclusive of both men and women. Alternate translation: [with people, doers of evil]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

פֹּֽעֲלֵי־אָ֑וֶן

(Some words not found in UHB: not incline heart_of,my to,anything evil to,practice deeds in,wickedness DOM men work_of iniquity and,not eat in,delicacies_of,their )

David is using the participial phrase doers of evil 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: [people who do evil things]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

וּ⁠בַל־אֶ֝לְחַ֗ם בְּ⁠מַנְעַמֵּי⁠הֶֽם

and,not eat (Some words not found in UHB: not incline heart_of,my to,anything evil to,practice deeds in,wickedness DOM men work_of iniquity and,not eat in,delicacies_of,their )

David is expressing what he desires for himself. 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 desires. Alternate translation: [I desire that I not dine on their delicacies] or [I should not dine on their delicacies]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וּ⁠בַל־אֶ֝לְחַ֗ם בְּ⁠מַנְעַמֵּי⁠הֶֽם

and,not eat (Some words not found in UHB: not incline heart_of,my to,anything evil to,practice deeds in,wickedness DOM men work_of iniquity and,not eat in,delicacies_of,their )

Here David is speaking as if sharing in the pleasures and rewards of the wicked were dining on their delicacies. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [And may I not partake of their pleasures] or [And may I not share in their rewards]

Note 8 topic: writing-pronouns

בְּ⁠מַנְעַמֵּי⁠הֶֽם

(Some words not found in UHB: not incline heart_of,my to,anything evil to,practice deeds in,wickedness DOM men work_of iniquity and,not eat in,delicacies_of,their )

The pronoun their refers to the men, doers of evil, mentioned earlier in the verse. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [on the delicacies of the doers of evil]