| 10. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the negating particle lo {לֹא־ | lō} ‘not,’ directly modifying the predicate naweh {נָאוֶה | nāʾwē} ‘fitting.’ The prepositional phrase lichsil {לִכְסִיל | li-kə-sîl} ‘for a fool’ sets up taanug {תַּעֲנוּג | ta-ʿǎ-nûg} ‘delight’ as its object. The adversative af {אַף | ʾap̄} ‘even’ together with ki {כִּי־ | kî} ‘because’ introduces the second clause le'eved {לְעֶבֶד | lə-ʿe-ved} ‘for a servant,’ marking an escalation. The infinitive construct meshol {מְשֹׁל | mə-šōl} ‘to rule’ governs the prepositional phrase besarim {בְּשָׂרִים | bə-śā-rîm} ‘over princes.’ This antithetical two-part structure (‘fool’ vs. ‘servant’) with a negative assertion followed by intensification conveys the proverb’s moral emphasis on proper social order. |