| 20. Linguistic Exegesis The noun mirmah {מִרְמָה | mîr-māh} ‘deceit’ functions as the subject and is fronted for emphasis. It is followed by belev {בְּלֶב | bə-lev} ‘in heart’, forming a locative construct that indicates internal disposition. The participle choršê {חֹרְשֵׁי | ḥôr-šê} ‘devisers’ takes rā‛ {רָע | rā‛} ‘evil’ as its object in a construct chain showing ongoing intent. The conjunction and preposition in u-lə-yo‛aṣ-ê {וּלְיֹעֲצֵי | ū-lə-yo‛aṣ-ê} ‘and to counselors’ marks a shift to the parallel positive clause, where šālôm {שָׁלוֹם | šā-lôm} ‘peace’ is the object of the participial counselors and simḥāh {שִׂמְחָה | sim-ḥāh} ‘joy’ concludes the verse, placed at the end to convey its prominence in the positive contrast. |