OET interlinear ZEC 7:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

הֲ⁠ל֣וֹא אֶת־הַ⁠דְּבָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר קָרָ֤א יְהוָה֙

am=not DOM the,words which/who he/it_called YHWH

Yahweh is using the question form to remind the people that these are the same messages he gave through the earlier prophets. 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: [These were the same words that Yahweh proclaimed]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

הֲ⁠ל֣וֹא אֶת הַ⁠דְּבָרִ֗ים

am=not DOM the,words

The next verse clarifies that the pronoun these refers to the messages about justice and mercy that Yahweh had proclaimed through the earlier prophets. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [Were these messages about justice and mercy not the same words that]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

בְּ⁠יַד֙ הַ⁠נְּבִיאִ֣ים הָ⁠רִֽאשֹׁנִ֔ים

by,the_hand_of of,the_prophets (the),former

Here, by the hand of the former prophets represents the words that the prophets spoke. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [by what the former prophets said]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-time-background

בִּ⁠הְי֤וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ יֹשֶׁ֣בֶת וּ⁠שְׁלֵוָ֔ה וְ⁠עָרֶ֖י⁠הָ סְבִיבֹתֶ֑י⁠הָ

when,was (Some words not found in UHB: am=not DOM the,words which/who he/it_called YHWH by,the_hand_of of,the_prophets (the),former when,was Yerushalayim inhabited and,at_ease and,cities_of,its [were]_around_of,it and,the,Negev and,the,Shephelah was_sitting )

Zechariah is using the clause when you still inhabited Jerusalem and the surrounding cities in prosperity to describe something that was ongoing. This provides the background for the prophetic messages that Yahweh proclaimed during this time. Connect this clause to the story in a way that makes it clear in your language that this clause is describing something that was ongoing in the background. Alternate translation: [while you were still living in Jerusalem and the surrounding cities in prosperity and were settled in the Negev, and the foothills to the west]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

וְ⁠הַ⁠נֶּ֥גֶב & יֹשֵֽׁב

and,the,Negev & was_sitting

The expression were settled is a passive verbal form. If it would be unnatural to use that form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [and had settled in the Negev]