OET interlinear PSA 141:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

כְּמ֤וֹ פֹלֵ֣חַ וּ⁠בֹקֵ֣עַ בָּ⁠אָ֑רֶץ

(Some words not found in UHB: as plows and,[one_who]_breaks_up on_the=earth scattered bones_of,our to,the_mouth_of shəʼōl )

The point of this comparison is that just as splitting and breaking up the ground scatters clods of earth everywhere, so their bones lie scattered about near death. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: [Just as clods of earth are scattered when one breaks up the ground]

Note 2 topic: writing-quotations

כְּמ֤וֹ פֹלֵ֣חַ וּ⁠בֹקֵ֣עַ בָּ⁠אָ֑רֶץ נִפְזְר֥וּ עֲ֝צָמֵ֗י⁠נוּ לְ⁠פִ֣י שְׁאֽוֹל

(Some words not found in UHB: as plows and,[one_who]_breaks_up on_the=earth scattered bones_of,our to,the_mouth_of shəʼōl )

The words of this verse may be (1) the words of the wicked. See the UST for how you could mark this as a direct quote of the wicked. Or this may be (2) the words of the psalmist, describing the danger that he feels from his wicked oppressors. In this case, there would be no quote marks around the verse.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

פֹלֵ֣חַ וּ⁠בֹקֵ֣עַ

plows and,[one_who]_breaks_up

The terms splitting and breaking up mean similar things. David is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [breaking apart]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

נִפְזְר֥וּ עֲ֝צָמֵ֗י⁠נוּ

scattered bones_of,our

The expression our bones are scattered is a passive verbal form. If it would be unnatural to use that form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [death scatters our bones]

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

עֲ֝צָמֵ֗י⁠נוּ

bones_of,our

The pronoun our represents a shift from the singular “I” that David has been using to a plural form. Here David is speaking on behalf of himself and his companions, or he is quoting what the persecuted righteous say together. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

לְ⁠פִ֣י שְׁאֽוֹל

to,the_mouth_of (Some words not found in UHB: as plows and,[one_who]_breaks_up on_the=earth scattered bones_of,our to,the_mouth_of shəʼōl )

David is speaking of Sheol as if it were a living creature that could swallow the dead with its mouth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the entrance to Sheol] or [the opening of the grave]