OET interlinear 2 SAM 22:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

וַ⁠יָּ֥שֶׁת חֹ֛שֶׁךְ

(Some words not found in UHB: and,he_put darkness around_of,him canopy gathering_of waters clouds_of sky )

David is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context here if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [And he set darkness as his shelter]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וַ⁠יָּ֥שֶׁת חֹ֛שֶׁךְ

(Some words not found in UHB: and,he_put darkness around_of,him canopy gathering_of waters clouds_of sky )

David is speaking as if the darkness were actually set like a physical object that could be arranged in place. He means that God caused darkness to surround himself. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [It was as if he were dwelling within the darkness of the storm]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

חַֽשְׁרַת־מַ֖יִם עָבֵ֥י שְׁחָקִֽים

(Some words not found in UHB: and,he_put darkness around_of,him canopy gathering_of waters clouds_of sky )

The phrases a gathering of waters and clouds of the skies mean similar things. David is using the two phrases together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [were rainclouds thick with water] or [were clouds that had collected water]