en_tn_condensed/ezr/04/22.md

1021 B

Be careful not to neglect this

The litotes "not to neglect" is an understatement to emphasize that the writers want Artaxerxes to do what they tell him to do. Alternate translation: "Be careful to do this" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-litotes)

Why allow this threat to grow and cause more loss for the royal interests?

Artaxerxes uses a question to tell them that he understands that he will lose taxes and honor if the city is built. Alternate translation: "You must make sure that this threat does not grow and cause more loss for the royal interests." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)

threat to grow

Danger is spoken of as if it were a plant that could increase in size. Alternate translation: "danger to become worse" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

cause more loss for the royal interests

The words "the royal interests" are a metonym for the king himself. Alternate translation: "cause more bad things to happen to the kings" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)