| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the participial phrase hasemechim {הַ֭שְּׂמֵחִים | hăššēmēḥîm} ‘who rejoice’, establishing a class characterized by illicit pleasure. The infinitive laʿăśôt {לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת | laʿăśôt} ‘to do’ links their delight to concrete wrongdoing. The verb yāḡîlû {יָ֝גִילוּ | yāḡîlû} ‘they exult’ intensifies the depiction of their celebration, while the prepositional phrase bəṯaḥpūḵōṯ {בְּֽתַהְפֻּכ֥וֹת | bəṯaḥpūḵōṯ} ‘in perversities’ specifies the twisted forms of evil. The repetition of rāʿ {רָ֑ע | rāʿ} at both clause ends forms a chiastic structure that underscores the depth of moral corruption. |