| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the negative particle lo {לֹא | lōʼ} combined with the Nifal imperfect verb yeuneh {יְאֻנֶּ֣ה | yəʼunnēh} “will befall,” expressing a general truth that harm does not overtake the righteous. The prepositional phrase la-tsaddiq {לַצַּדִּ֣יק | laṣṣaddîq} “to the righteous” marks the beneficiary of protection. The construct kol-’āwen {כָּל־אָוֶן | kol-’āwen} “all evil” expresses totality, while the conjunction u-reshaim {וּרְשָׁעִ֗ים | ū-rəšā‘îm} “and the wicked” introduces the contrasting clause. The Qal perfect verb maleu {מָלְאוּ | māl’û} “they are filled” asserts a completed result, and the final noun ra {רָע | rā‘} “trouble” completes the second clause. This antithetical parallelism underscores the moral contrast between preservation for the righteous and calamity for the wicked. |