| 34. Linguistic Exegesis The proverb employs parallelism through a contrasting vav {וְ | wə} to join two balanced clauses. The subject tsedaqah {צְדָקָה | ṣə-dā-qāh} ‘righteousness’ occurs with the Piel verb teromem {תְּרוֹמֵם | tə-rō-mēm} ‘exalts’, taking goy {גּוֹי | gōy} ‘nation’ as its direct object. The correlative vachetah {וְחֵטְאָה | wə-ḥē-ṭāh} ‘but sin’ introduces the second line, where the prepositional phrase leummim {לְאֻמִּים | lə-um-mîm} ‘to peoples’ frames chatat {חַטָּאת | ḥa-ṭāṯ} ‘sin’ as the consequence. The maqqef linking teromem–goy emphasizes the inseparable nature of the action and its beneficiary. This structure underscores cause and effect: righteous conduct yields national exaltation, whereas sin results in communal reproach. |