OET interlinear ZEC 1:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

שׁ֣וּבוּ אֵלַ֔⁠י

return to=me

Here Yahweh is speaking as if the people’s relationship with him were a place that they had physically left and could physically come back to. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Be faithful to me again] or [Renew your commitment to me]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠אָשׁ֣וּב אֲלֵי⁠כֶ֔ם

and,I_will_return to,you(pl)

Here Yahweh is speaking as if his renewed favor toward the people were a physical movement back to them. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and I will be favorable to you again] or [and I will bless you again]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / quotations

וְ⁠אָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵ⁠הֶ֗ם כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת

and,you_will_say to,them thus he/it_had_said YHWH armies/messengers

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: [And you shall tell them that Yahweh of Armies says this]

Note 4 topic: writing-quotations

נְאֻ֖ם יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת

declares_of YHWH armies/messengers

The term the declaration of Yahweh of Armies introduces a parenthetical affirmation of the source of this direct quotation. In your translation, use a natural way of indicating the authoritative source of direct quotations in your language. It may not be necessary to represent this term explicitly.

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

שׁ֣וּבוּ אֵלַ֔⁠י & וְ⁠אָשׁ֣וּב אֲלֵי⁠כֶ֔ם

return to=me & and,I_will_return to,you(pl)

Here, Return to me introduces the first part of a possible condition. Yahweh will only do the thing in the second part, and I will return to you, if this condition happens. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a condition that could happen. Alternate translation: [If you return to me, then I will return to you]