OET interlinear PSA 42:8

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / merism

יוֹמָ֤ם ׀ יְצַוֶּ֬ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ חַסְדּ֗⁠וֹ וּ֭⁠בַ⁠לַּיְלָה שִׁיר֣וֹ עִמִּ֑⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: deep to/towards deep calls to=sound/voice waterfalls_of,your all/each/any/every breakers_of,your and,waves_of,your over,me swept )

As in verse 3, the psalmist is using the two main components of time, day and night, to mean all of time. See how you translated the expression “day and night” in verse 3. It would be appropriate to use similar language here, since the psalmist’s recognition of Yahweh’s covenant faithfulness and his celebration of it in worship are his intentional responses to the sorrow he described earlier. Alternate translation: [Yahweh commands his covenant faithfulness all the time, and his song is with me all the time]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

יְצַוֶּ֬ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ חַסְדּ֗⁠וֹ

(Some words not found in UHB: deep to/towards deep calls to=sound/voice waterfalls_of,your all/each/any/every breakers_of,your and,waves_of,your over,me swept )

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of covenant faithfulness, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [Yahweh acts toward me in a way that is faithful to his covenant]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

שִׁיר֣וֹ עִמִּ֑⁠י תְּ֝פִלָּ֗ה

(Some words not found in UHB: deep to/towards deep calls to=sound/voice waterfalls_of,your all/each/any/every breakers_of,your and,waves_of,your over,me swept )

Since the psalmist is referring to a continual activity, he is likely not referring to one specific song that expresses one specific prayer. He probably means all of the songs that Yahweh enables him to compose in order to sing prayers to him. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use an expression that would be more natural in your language. Alternate translation: [his songs are with me, prayers]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

שִׁיר֣וֹ עִמִּ֑⁠י תְּ֝פִלָּ֗ה

(Some words not found in UHB: deep to/towards deep calls to=sound/voice waterfalls_of,your all/each/any/every breakers_of,your and,waves_of,your over,me swept )

The psalmist is speaking of this song as if it were a living thing that could be with him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [he enables me to compose songs, prayers]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

לְ⁠אֵ֣ל חַיָּֽ⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: deep to/towards deep calls to=sound/voice waterfalls_of,your all/each/any/every breakers_of,your and,waves_of,your over,me swept )

The psalmist is using the possessive form to indicate that it is God who has given him life and who preserves his life. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the God who has given me life] or [the God who preserves my life]