OET interlinear PSA 55:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לִ֭בִּ⁠י יָחִ֣יל בְּ⁠קִרְבִּ֑⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: from,the_sound_of enemy from=face/in_front_of oppression_of wicked that/for/because/then/when bring_down on,me trouble and,in,anger they,are_hostile_towards_me )

This statement could have a figurative meaning or a literal meaning or both. If your language has a term such as “heart” that describes an internal organ and can also represent emotions, it would be appropriate to use it here in your translation. This could mean: (1) that David is using his heart to represent his emotions. Alternate translation: [I feel very distressed inside] or (2) that David is describing physical symptoms that he is experiencing. Alternate translation: [My heart is pounding inside me] or [My heart is racing fast]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠אֵימ֥וֹת מָ֝֗וֶת נָפְל֥וּ עָלָֽ⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: from,the_sound_of enemy from=face/in_front_of oppression_of wicked that/for/because/then/when bring_down on,me trouble and,in,anger they,are_hostile_towards_me )

David is speaking as if the terrors of death were actually objects that could have fallen onto him. He means that he is feeling them immediately and forcefully, as if they had struck him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and I feel the terrors of death strikingly]

Note 3 topic: translate-plural

וְ⁠אֵימ֥וֹת מָ֝֗וֶת נָפְל֥וּ עָלָֽ⁠י

(Some words not found in UHB: from,the_sound_of enemy from=face/in_front_of oppression_of wicked that/for/because/then/when bring_down on,me trouble and,in,anger they,are_hostile_towards_me )

David may be using the plural form terrors: (1) to indicate that the prospect of dying is making him feel a combination of fears. Alternate translation: [I feel strikingly all the fears that the prospect of dying makes a person feel] or (2) to emphasize that the fear of death is a very great fear. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a singular form and express the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [I feel strikingly the great fear of death]