OET interlinear PSA 1:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

וְֽ⁠הָיָ֗ה כְּ⁠עֵץ֮ שָׁת֪וּל עַֽל־פַּלְגֵ֫י מָ֥יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר פִּרְי֨⁠וֹ ׀ יִתֵּ֬ן בְּ⁠עִתּ֗⁠וֹ וְ⁠עָלֵ֥⁠הוּ לֹֽא־יִבּ֑וֹל וְ⁠כֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יַצְלִֽיחַ

and=it_was (Some words not found in UHB: and=it_was like,tree planted on/upon streams_of water which/who fruit_of,its he/it_gave in/on/at/with,season_of,its and,leaf_of,its not wither and=all/each/any/every which/who he/it_made/did prospers )

The point of this verse’s comparison between the happy man and a well-watered tree is that just like the streams of water cause the tree to flourish, learning Yahweh’s instructions causes the man to flourish. (In Hebrew the phrases even sound similar.) Both a positive and negative comparison are given to strengthen the force of the point. The tree, fruit, and leaf references connect both back to Eden and forward to the end of Revelation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the argument a little more explicit as the “Like … so” connection does in the UST. See 92:12-92:14 for another use of this imagery.

שָׁת֪וּל

(Some words not found in UHB: and=it_was like,tree planted on/upon streams_of water which/who fruit_of,its he/it_gave in/on/at/with,season_of,its and,leaf_of,its not wither and=all/each/any/every which/who he/it_made/did prospers )

The point of the choice of the word transplanted is to emphasize the intentional placement of a tree so that it gets abundant water. Translators could use a word meaning “planted” if their readers would understand that this was intentional. Alternate translation: “deliberately planted” or “cultivated”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

שָׁת֪וּל

(Some words not found in UHB: and=it_was like,tree planted on/upon streams_of water which/who fruit_of,its he/it_gave in/on/at/with,season_of,its and,leaf_of,its not wither and=all/each/any/every which/who he/it_made/did prospers )

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “that someone transplanted”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וְ⁠עָלֵ֥⁠הוּ לֹֽא־יִבּ֑וֹל

and,leaf_of,its not wither

The author is referring figuratively to the tree dying by association with the way the leaves on a tree wither when a tree is dead or dying. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and it will not die”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

וְ⁠עָלֵ֥⁠הוּ לֹֽא־יִבּ֑וֹל

and,leaf_of,its not wither

Here the author uses a figure of speech that expresses a strong positive meaning by using a negative word together with a word that is the opposite of the intended meaning. If this is confusing in your language, you can express the meaning positively. Alternate translation: “and its leaves are strong and green”

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

וְ⁠כֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יַצְלִֽיחַ

and=all/each/any/every (Some words not found in UHB: and=it_was like,tree planted on/upon streams_of water which/who fruit_of,its he/it_gave in/on/at/with,season_of,its and,leaf_of,its not wither and=all/each/any/every which/who he/it_made/did prospers )

Here, both instances of he refer to the happy man.