OET interlinear PSA 50:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

אֱלֹהֵ֗י⁠נוּ

God_of,our

By Our, the psalmist means to include both himself and those he is addressing, so use the inclusive form of that word if your language marks that distinction.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

וְֽ⁠אַל־יֶ֫חֱרַ֥שׁ

and,not keep_silence

This is a double negative, consisting of the negative particle not and the negative word silent. If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a positive expression to translate this. Alternate translation: [and he is going to speak]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֵשׁ־לְ⁠פָנָ֥י⁠ו תֹּאכֵ֑ל וּ֝⁠סְבִיבָ֗י⁠ו נִשְׂעֲרָ֥ה מְאֹֽד

fire before,,him (Some words not found in UHB: comes God_of,our and,not keep_silence fire before,,him you(ms)_will_eat and,around_of,him tempest very )

Asaph is using images from God’s appearance on Mount Sinai, where he made a covenant with the Israelites, to describe God’s approach to judge his people in light of that covenant on this occasion. [Exodus 19:16–18](../exo/19/16.md) describes how a great thunderstorm and a burning fire preceded Yahweh’s descent onto Mount Sinai. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. The UST models one way to do that.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

אֵשׁ־לְ⁠פָנָ֥י⁠ו תֹּאכֵ֑ל

fire before,,him (Some words not found in UHB: comes God_of,our and,not keep_silence fire before,,him you(ms)_will_eat and,around_of,him tempest very )

Here, to his face represents “in front of him.” If you decide to retain this image in your translation, if it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [A fire devours in front of him]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֵשׁ־לְ⁠פָנָ֥י⁠ו תֹּאכֵ֑ל

fire before,,him (Some words not found in UHB: comes God_of,our and,not keep_silence fire before,,him you(ms)_will_eat and,around_of,him tempest very )

Asaph is speaking as if this fire were actually devouring or eating what was in front of God. If you decide to retain this image in your translation, if it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [A fire burns up everything in front of him]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

נִשְׂעֲרָ֥ה מְאֹֽד

(Some words not found in UHB: comes God_of,our and,not keep_silence fire before,,him you(ms)_will_eat and,around_of,him tempest very )

The expression it is stormed is a passive verbal form. If you decide to retain this image in your translation, if your language would not use that form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that would be natural in your language. Alternate translation: [a great storm rages]