| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The parallel construct chains taavat tsaddiqim {תַּאֲוַת צַדִּיקִים | taʾăwāṯ ṣaddîqîm} 'desire of the righteous' and tikvat reshaim {תִּקְוַת רְשָׁעִים | tiqqāwāṯ rəšāʿîm} 'hope of the wicked' establish a clear antithesis. The restrictive particle akh {אַךְ | ʾăḵ} 'only' modifies tov {טוֹב | ṭôḇ} 'good', highlighting exclusive positive outcome. The absence of a conjunction intensifies the contrast, culminating in evrah {עֶבְרָה | ʿeḇrāh} 'wrath'. English preserves this by mirroring the construct state as “of” phrases and maintaining balanced syntax. |