| 18. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the predicative participle meshib {מֵשִׁ֣יב | mēšîḇ} ‘returning,’ which presents the outcome as characteristic and inescapable: the wicked person is depicted as one who ends up giving back what was gained. The direct object yaga {יָ֭גָע | yāgāʿ} ‘toil’ is placed immediately after the participle, foregrounding the painful cost of what is lost. The first negated verbal clause velo {וְלֹ֣א | wə-lōʾ} + yivla {יִבְלָ֑ע | yiḇlaʿ} ‘and not he will swallow’ uses the concrete image of swallowing to express deprivation of enjoyment or benefit. The comparative phrase kecheil {כְּחֵ֥יל | kəḥêl} ‘like wealth’ introduces a comparison that ties the loss to the very substance of his temurato {תְּ֝מוּרָת֗וֹ | təmūrātô} ‘his exchange,’ highlighting the transactional character of his gain. The second repetition of velo {וְלֹ֣א | wə-lōʾ} with yaalos {יַעֲלֹֽס | yaʿălōs} ‘he will rejoice’ forms a parallel negative conclusion, intensifying the point: not only is the gain surrendered, but even the emotional payoff of success is denied. |