OET interlinear ZEC 4:10

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

לְ⁠י֣וֹם קְטַנּוֹת֒

(to)_a,day_of small

Yahweh is using the possessive form to describe a day that is characterized by small things. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the day when small things happen]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

מִ֣י בַז֮ לְ⁠י֣וֹם קְטַנּוֹת֒

who? despised (to)_a,day_of small

Yahweh is using the question form to emphasize that no one should despise small beginnings. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: [no one should despise the day of small things!]

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

וְ⁠שָׂמְח֗וּ וְ⁠רָא֞וּ

and,they_will_rejoice and,they_will_see

The pronoun they refers to the people. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [And the people will be glad and will see]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

הָאֶ֧בֶן הַבְּדִ֛יל

(Some words not found in UHB: that/for/because/then/when who? despised (to)_a,day_of small and,they_will_rejoice and,they_will_see DOM the,stone (the),tin in,the_hand_of Zərubāⱱel seven these both_eyes_of YHWH they(emph) range in=all the=earth/land )

A stone of tin refers to a metal or stone weight tied to a line and hung down from the top of a wall to make sure it is perfectly straight up and down. The common term for this is “plumb line” as in the UST. If your readers would not be familiar with what a plumb line is, you could use the name of a similar thing that your readers would recognize, or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [a measuring string] or [a device that proves that the building was constructed properly]

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

שִׁבְעָה־אֵ֑לֶּה

seven these

The pronoun These refers to the seven lamps. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [These seven lamps]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

עֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה

both_eyes_of YHWH

Here, eyes represents the awareness and watchfulness of a person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [Yahweh’s watchfulness]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

הֵ֥מָּה מְשׁוֹטְטִ֖ים בְּ⁠כָל־הָ⁠אָֽרֶץ

they(emph) range in=all the=earth/land

Yahweh is speaking of the eyes as if they were living things that could roam. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [they look throughout all the earth]

Note 8 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

כִּ֣י מִ֣י בַז֮ לְ⁠י֣וֹם קְטַנּוֹת֒ וְ⁠שָׂמְח֗וּ

that/for/because/then/when who? despised (to)_a,day_of small and,they_will_rejoice

The word translated as For indicates that what follows is a reason for what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: [Indeed, who would despise the day of small beginnings? It is certain that people will rejoice]