OET interlinear 2 SAM 3:13

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

וַ⁠יֹּ֣אמֶר

(Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_said good I make with,you covenant but thing one(ms) I require from,with,you to=say not you(ms)_will_see DOM face_of,my that/for/because/then/when if to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before bring,you DOM Mīkāl daughter_of Shāʼūl/(Saul)'s when,come,you to=see DOM face_of,my )

The pronoun he refers to David. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [Then David said]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

אֲנִ֕י אֶכְרֹ֥ת אִתְּ⁠ךָ֖ בְּרִ֑ית

I make (Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_said good I make with,you covenant but thing one(ms) I require from,with,you to=say not you(ms)_will_see DOM face_of,my that/for/because/then/when if to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before bring,you DOM Mīkāl daughter_of Shāʼūl/(Saul)'s when,come,you to=see DOM face_of,my )

David is stating the pronoun I separately, even though the verb translated as I will cut already includes this meaning. He is doing that to emphasize that he is making a commitment to Abner. If a speaker of your language would use an explicit pronoun for the same purpose, you may want to use that construction in your translation. If not, your language may have other ways of showing the meaning here. Alternate translation: [I agree to cut a covenant with you]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

אַ֣ךְ דָּבָ֣ר אֶחָ֡ד אָנֹכִי֩ שֹׁאֵ֨ל מֵ⁠אִתְּ⁠ךָ֤ לֵ⁠אמֹר֙ לֹא־תִרְאֶ֣ה אֶת־פָּנַ֔⁠י כִּ֣י ׀ אִם־לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הֱבִיאֲ⁠ךָ֗ אֵ֚ת מִיכַ֣ל בַּת־שָׁא֔וּל בְּ⁠בֹאֲ⁠ךָ֖ לִ⁠רְא֥וֹת אֶת־פָּנָֽ⁠י

but (Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_said good I make with,you covenant but thing one(ms) I require from,with,you to=say not you(ms)_will_see DOM face_of,my that/for/because/then/when if to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before bring,you DOM Mīkāl daughter_of Shāʼūl/(Saul)'s when,come,you to=see DOM face_of,my )

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: [Only one thing I am asking from you. You will not see my face unless you bring Michal, the daughter of Saul, to my face when you come to see my face.]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-exceptions

לֹא־תִרְאֶ֣ה אֶת־פָּנַ֔⁠י כִּ֣י ׀ אִם־לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הֱבִיאֲ⁠ךָ֗ אֵ֚ת מִיכַ֣ל

not you(ms)_will_see DOM (Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_said good I make with,you covenant but thing one(ms) I require from,with,you to=say not you(ms)_will_see DOM face_of,my that/for/because/then/when if to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before bring,you DOM Mīkāl daughter_of Shāʼūl/(Saul)'s when,come,you to=see DOM face_of,my )

If it would appear in your language that David was making a statement and then contradicting it, you could reword this as a positive statement. Alternate translation: [You will only see my face if you bring Michal]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לֹא־תִרְאֶ֣ה אֶת־פָּנַ֔⁠י & בְּ⁠בֹאֲ⁠ךָ֖ לִ⁠רְא֥וֹת אֶת־פָּנָֽ⁠י

not you(ms)_will_see DOM (Some words not found in UHB: and=he/it_said good I make with,you covenant but thing one(ms) I require from,with,you to=say not you(ms)_will_see DOM face_of,my that/for/because/then/when if to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before bring,you DOM Mīkāl daughter_of Shāʼūl/(Saul)'s when,come,you to=see DOM face_of,my )

Here, face represents personal presence. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [You will not come into my presence … when you come into my presence]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י

to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before

David is using face to represent his whole person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [back to me]