| 19. Linguistic Exegesis The clause begins with the verb shachu {שַׁח֣וּ | šaḥ-ḥû} ‘they bow down’ in VSO order, foregrounding the action before its subject raim {רָ֭עִים | rā-ʿîm} ‘evil ones.’ The preposition lifnei {לִפְנֵ֣י | lif-nê} ‘before’ introduces the spatial complement tovim {טוֹבִ֑ים | ṭō-vîm} ‘good ones.’ A parallel antithetical clause follows, coordinated by the implied vav preceding ureshaim {וּ֝רְשָׁעִ֗ים | wə-rə-šaʿ-îm} ‘wicked ones,’ with the prepositional phrase al-shaarei {עַֽל־שַׁעֲרֵ֥י | ʿal-šaʿ-arê} ‘at the gates of’ governing tsaddiq {צַדִּיק׃ | ṣad-dîq} ‘righteous one.’ This chiastic structure contrasts a reversal of status, placing the morally corrupt in subservience to the morally upright. |