8:31a

the demons begged Jesus: Here it is obviously the demons who are talking. They are talking through the men.

begged: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as begged also means “asked” or “requested.” For example:

pleaded (New Jerusalem Bible)

8:31b

If You drive us out: The words drive us out refers to causing the demons to leave the men and forbidding their return. This word also occurs in 7:22c.

Jewish people often spoke of evil spirits as being in someone. Different cultures have different ways of speaking about people being controlled by demons and being released from the control of demons. Use a natural expression for this in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

If you throw/chase us out
-or-
If you force us out (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
If you make us leave these men (New Century Version)

send us into the herd of pigs: This clause is a command that is used as a request. The demons wanted Jesus to allow them to enter into the pigs and control them as they had the men.

Here are some other ways to translate the clause:

let us go into the herd of pigs

-or-

please send us into those pigs (Contemporary English Version)

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