| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The construct phrase pi {פִּי | pî} kesil {כְסִיל | kesîl} establishes “mouth-of-fool.” The sequence mekhittah {מְחִתָּה | mə-ḥi-ṭ-ṭâh} lô {ל֑וֹ | lô} forms “destruction-to-him.” The parallel clause wə-sep̄āṯāyw {וּשְׂפָתָיו | wə-sep̄āṯāyw} môqēš {מוֹקֵשׁ | môqēš} nap̄šô {נַפְשׁוֹ | nap̄šô} links “and his lips” with “snare” and “his soul.” Hebrew poetic syntax omits verbs and relies on nominal clauses to create parallelism and emphasis, highlighting self-inflicted harm through speech. In English, verbs (“is,” “brings,” “trap”) are supplied to maintain readability while reflecting Hebrew clause structure. |