OET interlinear PSA 17:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

אָ֭דָם

humankind

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: [mankind]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

בִּ⁠דְבַ֣ר שְׂפָתֶ֑י⁠ךָ אֲנִ֥י שָׁ֝מַ֗רְתִּי אָרְח֥וֹת פָּרִֽיץ

(Some words not found in UHB: to_[the],deeds_of humankind by,the_word_of your_two's_lips_of,your I kept ways_of violent )

If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: [I have kept myself away from the paths of the violent by the word of your lips]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

בִּ⁠דְבַ֣ר שְׂפָתֶ֑י⁠ךָ

(Some words not found in UHB: to_[the],deeds_of humankind by,the_word_of your_two's_lips_of,your I kept ways_of violent )

Here, word represents God’s oral or written communication. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [by your word] or [by what you have spoken]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אָרְח֥וֹת פָּרִֽיץ

ways_of (Some words not found in UHB: to_[the],deeds_of humankind by,the_word_of your_two's_lips_of,your I kept ways_of violent )

Here David is speaking of how people live as if they were actually paths that they walk on. The phrase paths of the violent refers to living in a way that is characterized by unjust violence against innocent people. (David performed violent actions in the context of war but this refers to non-military violence.) If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a violent way of life] or [a destructive lifestyle characterized by violence]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

פָּרִֽיץ

(Some words not found in UHB: to_[the],deeds_of humankind by,the_word_of your_two's_lips_of,your I kept ways_of violent )

David is using the adjective violent 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: [violent people]