אִם־עֲוֹנֵ֨ינוּ֙ עָ֣נוּ בָ֔נוּ יְהוָ֕ה עֲשֵׂ֖ה לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי־רַבּ֥וּ מְשׁוּבֹתֵ֖ינוּ לְךָ֥ חָטָֽאנוּ׃
If our iniquities have answered against us, O YHWH, act for the sake of Your name; for many are our backslidings, to You we have sinned.
Morphology
- אִם־ (ʾim) – Root: אם; Form: Conditional particle; Translation: “if”; Notes: Introduces a conditional clause.
- עֲוֹנֵ֨ינוּ (ʿavonenu) – Root: עון; Form: Noun masculine plural construct with 1st person common plural suffix; Translation: “our iniquities”; Notes: Refers to guilt or moral transgression.
- עָ֣נוּ (ʿanu) – Root: ענה; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “have answered”; Notes: Implies bearing witness or testifying against us through consequences.
- בָ֔נוּ (vanu) – Root: בוא (in this context, pronominal suffix); Form: Preposition + 1st person common plural suffix; Translation: “against us”; Notes: Specifies the object of the response.
- יְהוָ֕ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה; Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenantal name of God.
- עֲשֵׂ֖ה (ʿaseh) – Root: עשה; Form: Qal imperative masculine singular; Translation: “act” or “do”; Notes: A plea addressed directly to YHWH.
- לְמַ֣עַן (lemaʿan) – Root: מען; Form: Preposition; Translation: “for the sake of”; Notes: Indicates purpose or motive.
- שְׁמֶ֑ךָ (shemekha) – Root: שם; Form: Noun masculine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “Your name”; Notes: Refers to YHWH’s reputation, glory, or covenantal identity.
- כִּֽי־ (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for” or “because”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the petition.
- רַבּ֥וּ (rabu) – Root: רבב; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person common plural; Translation: “they are many”; Notes: Refers to the abundance or multitude of sins.
- מְשׁוּבֹתֵ֖ינוּ (meshuvotenu) – Root: שוב; Form: Noun feminine plural construct with 1st person common plural suffix; Translation: “our backslidings”; Notes: Apostasy or turning away from YHWH.
- לְךָ֥ (lekha) – Root: לך; Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to You”; Notes: Direct object of the verb חטאנו—offense is against YHWH.
- חָטָֽאנוּ (ḥatanu) – Root: חטא; Form: Qal perfect 1st person common plural; Translation: “we have sinned”; Notes: Confession of guilt in covenantal and moral terms.