OET interlinear 1SA 25:8

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

שְׁאַ֨ל אֶת־נְעָרֶ֜י⁠ךָ וְ⁠יַגִּ֣ידוּ לָ֗⁠ךְ וְ⁠יִמְצְא֨וּ הַ⁠נְּעָרִ֥ים חֵן֙ בְּ⁠עֵינֶ֔י⁠ךָ כִּֽי־עַל־י֥וֹם ט֖וֹב בָּ֑נוּ תְּנָ⁠ה־נָּ֗א אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּמְצָ֤א יָֽדְ⁠ךָ֙ לַ⁠עֲבָדֶ֔י⁠ךָ וּ⁠לְ⁠בִנְ⁠ךָ֖ לְ⁠דָוִֽד

ask DOM young_men_of,your and,tell to/for=you(fs) and,find the,young_men graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty in/on/at/with,eyes_of,your that/for/because/then/when on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in day good they_had_built give, please DOM which/who find hand_of,you to,servants_of,your and,to,son_of,your to,David

If you decided to translate David’s instructions so that there would not be a quotation within a quotation, you can continue to do that here. Alternate translation: [He invites you to ask your young men, and they will declare to you. He hopes that we young men will find favor in your eyes, for all of us have come on a good day. He asks you please to give whatever your hand finds to us, your servants, and to him, your son, to David]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

שְׁאַ֨ל אֶת־נְעָרֶ֜י⁠ךָ וְ⁠יַגִּ֣ידוּ לָ֗⁠ךְ

ask DOM young_men_of,your and,tell to/for=you(fs)

This is an imperative, but David is instructing his messengers to use it to make a polite request rather than to give a command. Use a form in your language that communicates a polite request. Alternate translation: [Please ask your young men, and they will declare to you that this is true]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

וְ⁠יִמְצְא֨וּ הַ⁠נְּעָרִ֥ים חֵן֙ בְּ⁠עֵינֶ֔י⁠ךָ כִּֽי־עַל־י֥וֹם ט֖וֹב בָּ֑נוּ

and,find the,young_men graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty in/on/at/with,eyes_of,your that/for/because/then/when on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in day good they_had_built

If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: [So since we have come on a good day, let the young men find favor in your eyes]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וְ⁠יִמְצְא֨וּ הַ⁠נְּעָרִ֥ים חֵן֙ בְּ⁠עֵינֶ֔י⁠ךָ

and,find the,young_men graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty in/on/at/with,eyes_of,your

See how you translated the similar expression in [1:18](../01/18.md). Alternate translation: [So please regard these young men favorably]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

בָּ֑נוּ

they_had_built

David is instructing his messengers to use the pronoun we to refer to themselves but not to Nabal, so use the exclusive form of that word if your language marks that distinction.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

עַל־י֥וֹם ט֖וֹב

on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in day good

David is instructing his messengers to speak of this day as good by association with the mood that they presume Nabal will be in at sheep-shearing time. In this culture, that was an occasion for celebration and generosity. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [on a day of celebration] or [at a time when you must be feeling happy]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּמְצָ֤א יָֽדְ⁠ךָ֙

DOM which/who find hand_of,you

David is instructing his messengers to use a common expression of their culture. See how you translated the similar expression in [10:7](../10/07.md). Alternate translation: [whatever seems suitable to you]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

לַ⁠עֲבָדֶ֔י⁠ךָ

to,servants_of,your

David is instructing his messengers to speak about themselves humbly in the third person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this in the first person. Alternate translation: [to us, your servants]

Note 9 topic: writing-politeness

וּ⁠לְ⁠בִנְ⁠ךָ֖ לְ⁠דָוִֽד

and,to,son_of,your to,David

David is instructing his messengers to refer to him humbly as Nabal’s son, indicating that David regards Nabal as a father-figure and benefactor. Use a comparable title or expression from your own language and culture.