OET interlinear PSA 49:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אַטֶּ֣ה לְ⁠מָשָׁ֣ל אָזְנִ֑⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: mouth_of,my speak wisdom and,the_meditation_of my_heart_of,my understanding )

The psalmist is speaking as if he is going to physically incline his ear, that is, lean over the way someone would do to listen to someone. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I will listen carefully to a proverb]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

אַטֶּ֣ה לְ⁠מָשָׁ֣ל אָזְנִ֑⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: mouth_of,my speak wisdom and,the_meditation_of my_heart_of,my understanding )

The psalmist is speaking of this proverb as if it were a living thing that could speak to him. While he actually could listen to this proverb in the sense of hearing other people quote it, he means that he will carefully consider its meaning. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation. You could also use plain language. Alternate translation: [I will see what a proverb has to say to me] or [I will carefully consider the meaning of a proverb]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

אַטֶּ֣ה לְ⁠מָשָׁ֣ל אָזְנִ֑⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: mouth_of,my speak wisdom and,the_meditation_of my_heart_of,my understanding )

While the term that the ULT translates as proverb generally means a short, popular saying that expresses some wisdom or truth, the specific meaning in this context is a “comparison,” which many proverbs draw. The psalmist is probably referring to the comparison in the refrain in verses 12 and 20 of this psalm, that people are like beasts. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [I will carefully consider the meaning of a comparison]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֶפְתַּ֥ח בְּ֝⁠כִנּ֗וֹר חִידָתִֽ⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: mouth_of,my speak wisdom and,the_meditation_of my_heart_of,my understanding )

The psalmist is speaking as if his enigma (the difficult and puzzling question he is trying to solve) were a closed container that he is going to use a harp to open. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I will explain my enigma as I sing and accompany myself with a harp]