| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the construct phrase lev navon {לֵב נָבוֹן | lev nābôn} ‘heart of one with understanding,’ establishing the subject. It proceeds with the verb yevakkesh-daʿat {יְבַקֶשׁ־דָּעַת | yə-vaqqēš–dāʿaṯ} ‘seeks knowledge,’ highlighting a habitual pursuit of daʿat {דָּעַת | dāʿaṯ} ‘knowledge.’ The adversative conjunction introduces u-fi kesilīm {וּפִי כְסִילִים | ū-p̄î kəsīlīm} ‘but the mouth of fools,’ shifting to the contrasting agent. The final verb yirʿeh ivvelet {יִרְעֶה אִוֶּלֶת | yirʿˈeh ʾivvelet} ‘feeds on folly’ uses shepherding imagery to convey consumption of ivvelet {אִוֶּלֶת | ʾivvelet} ‘folly.’ This antithetical parallelism juxtaposes the constructive quest for wisdom with self-indulgent folly, reinforcing the moral contrast. |