OET interlinear PSA 68:8

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

אֶ֤רֶץ רָעָ֨שָׁה

(Some words not found in UHB: ʼElohīm when,you,went_out to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before people_of,your when,marched,you in,a_desolate_place selah )

The psalmist is speaking of the earth quaked as if the earth were a living thing that could react with fear. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the earth trembled]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

שָׁמַ֣יִם נָטְפוּ֮

(Some words not found in UHB: ʼElohīm when,you,went_out to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before people_of,your when,marched,you in,a_desolate_place selah )

The psalmist is speaking of the heavens dripped as if the heavens were a living thing that could pour out rain. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [rain fell from the sky]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

מִ⁠פְּנֵ֪י אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים

(Some words not found in UHB: ʼElohīm when,you,went_out to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before people_of,your when,marched,you in,a_desolate_place selah )

Here, from the face of God represents being in front of God, that is, in his presence. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [from the presence of God]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

זֶ֥ה סִינַ֑י מִ⁠פְּנֵ֥י אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

(Some words not found in UHB: ʼElohīm when,you,went_out to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before people_of,your when,marched,you in,a_desolate_place selah )

The psalmist is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. The verb “quaked” from the previous clause is implied here. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [this Sinai also quaked, from the face of God, the God of Israel]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

מִ⁠פְּנֵ֥י אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים

(Some words not found in UHB: ʼElohīm when,you,went_out to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before people_of,your when,marched,you in,a_desolate_place selah )

Here, from the face of God represents being in front of God, that is, in his presence. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [from the presence of God]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

(Some words not found in UHB: ʼElohīm when,you,went_out to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before people_of,your when,marched,you in,a_desolate_place selah )

The psalmist is not using this possessive form the God of Israel to indicate that the Israelites possess or control God. Rather the psalmist is using these words to indicate that God is the one whom Israel worships. Alternate translation: [who is the God whom Israel worships]