OET interlinear PSA 1:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי

(Some words not found in UHB: blessed the=man which/who not walk in/on/at/with,advice_of wicked and,in/on/at/with,way_of sinners not stand and,in/on/at/with,seat_of mockers not sit )

The man described as happy is someone that others admire and desire to be like. Happy here can be a congratulatory term. Alternate translation: “Admirable” or “Praised”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי־הָ⁠אִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ לֹ֥א הָלַךְ֮ בַּ⁠עֲצַ֪ת רְשָׁ֫עִ֥ים וּ⁠בְ⁠דֶ֣רֶךְ חַ֭טָּאִים לֹ֥א עָמָ֑ד וּ⁠בְ⁠מוֹשַׁ֥ב לֵ֝צִ֗ים לֹ֣א יָשָֽׁב

(Some words not found in UHB: blessed the=man which/who not walk in/on/at/with,advice_of wicked and,in/on/at/with,way_of sinners not stand and,in/on/at/with,seat_of mockers not sit )

In some languages it may be more natural to place the declaration of the state of the man at the end of the verse after the description of the characteristics that he avoids. However, starting the psalm with the exclamation Happy was an intentional poetic decision by the author, who intended to set the mood of the psalm. Translators should consider how their language might start the psalm with the same sort of praising exclamation. Alternate translation: “The man who does not walk in the advice of the wicked ones, and stands not in the pathway with sinners, and sits not in the seat of mockers is happy.”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

הָ⁠אִ֗ישׁ

the=man

The man here may refer first to the ideal Israelite king while also having a general meaning referring to a typical righteous person. If your readers would not understand the man in a general way, you may choose a term that gives a broader interpretation. One possible way to do this may be by not using a definite article. Alternate translation: “is a man” or “is the person” or “is a person”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

לֹ֥א הָלַךְ֮ בַּ⁠עֲצַ֪ת רְשָׁ֫עִ֥ים וּ⁠בְ⁠דֶ֣רֶךְ חַ֭טָּאִים לֹ֥א עָמָ֑ד וּ⁠בְ⁠מוֹשַׁ֥ב לֵ֝צִ֗ים לֹ֣א יָשָֽׁב

not walk not (Some words not found in UHB: blessed the=man which/who not walk in/on/at/with,advice_of wicked and,in/on/at/with,way_of sinners not stand and,in/on/at/with,seat_of mockers not sit )

It may be helpful to read these three phrases in an inverted way. That way the negative trajectory that the happy man avoids can be more clearly seen. Consider: “Unhappy is the man who walks in the advice of the wicked ones and then who stands in the pathway of sinners and then who sits in the seat of scoffers.” The meaning of each of these parts of this extended metaphor is expanded in later notes, but translators should see a trajectory of worsening character that a happy man avoids.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

לֹ֥א הָלַךְ֮ בַּ⁠עֲצַ֪ת רְשָׁ֫עִ֥ים

not walk not (Some words not found in UHB: blessed the=man which/who not walk in/on/at/with,advice_of wicked and,in/on/at/with,way_of sinners not stand and,in/on/at/with,seat_of mockers not sit )

Here, walks refers to a man doing the things that wicked ones suggest that he does. This is the beginning of a pattern of doing wrong. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the image clear or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “does not walk into sin that wicked people suggest” or “never does what wicked people suggest”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

וּ⁠בְ⁠דֶ֣רֶךְ חַ֭טָּאִים לֹ֥א עָמָ֑ד

and,in/on/at/with,way_of (Some words not found in UHB: blessed the=man which/who not walk in/on/at/with,advice_of wicked and,in/on/at/with,way_of sinners not stand and,in/on/at/with,seat_of mockers not sit )

Here, stands not in the pathway of sinners refers to not copying how sinners continually live their lives, that is, their sinful habits. Standing means joining with sinners. The pathway means habits or how they live. Not only does the happy man not do what the wicked say, but doing what sinners do does not become the way in which he lives his life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the image clear or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and does not stand with sinners in the path of sinning” or “and does not make sinning a habit”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

וּ⁠בְ⁠מוֹשַׁ֥ב לֵ֝צִ֗ים לֹ֣א יָשָֽׁב

(Some words not found in UHB: blessed the=man which/who not walk in/on/at/with,advice_of wicked and,in/on/at/with,way_of sinners not stand and,in/on/at/with,seat_of mockers not sit )

Here, sits not in the seat of scoffers means to not become like people who spend their time mocking people, things, and God. By avoiding the previous two progressions towards a sinful life, the happy man avoids this final state where he would be just like the wicked. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the image clear or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and does not sit with scoffers to join them in scoffing” or “so he never becomes like wicked mockers”