OET interlinear PSA 55:9

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

בַּלַּ֣ע אֲ֭דֹנָ⁠י פַּלַּ֣ג לְשׁוֹנָ֑⁠ם

(Some words not found in UHB: hurry shelter to=me from,a_wind raging from,a_storm )

The verb that the ULT translates as Swallow means “to swallow” in every other instance in the Hebrew Bible. (For example, [Jonah 1:17](../jon/01/17.md), “Yahweh appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah.”) However, many biblical scholars believe, based on languages similar to Hebrew, that there was another verb with the same consonants that meant “confuse” and that David was using that verb here. If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT. Alternate translation: [Confuse, Lord, divide their tongue] or [Lord, confuse and divide their tongue]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בַּלַּ֣ע

(Some words not found in UHB: hurry shelter to=me from,a_wind raging from,a_storm )

If this verb means Swallow, then David is speaking as if he wants the Lord actually to eat his enemies and swallow them. See how you translated the similar term “devour” in [35:25](../035/025.md). Alternate translation: [Destroy them]

Note 3 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

פַּלַּ֣ג לְשׁוֹנָ֑⁠ם

(Some words not found in UHB: hurry shelter to=me from,a_wind raging from,a_storm )

Here the word tongue is singular in form, but it refers to the tongues of all of David’s enemies as a group. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use the plural form of “tongue.” Alternate translation: [divide their tongues]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

פַּלַּ֣ג לְשׁוֹנָ֑⁠ם

(Some words not found in UHB: hurry shelter to=me from,a_wind raging from,a_storm )

David is using the term tongue to represent what his enemies would by using their tongues. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [make them disagree in what they say]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

כִּֽי

(Some words not found in UHB: hurry shelter to=me from,a_wind raging from,a_storm )

Here the word For introduces an explanation for what David asks in the previous sentence. Use a connecting word or phrase in your language that will make this clear.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

חָמָ֖ס וְ⁠רִ֣יב

(Some words not found in UHB: hurry shelter to=me from,a_wind raging from,a_storm )

The terms violence and strife mean similar things. David is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [much violence]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

בָּ⁠עִֽיר

(Some words not found in UHB: hurry shelter to=me from,a_wind raging from,a_storm )

To decide whether to be more specific in your translation about what city David is referring to, see the discussion in the introduction to this psalm of when and why he probably wrote it.