| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The proverb begins with nachalah {נַ֭חֲלָה | naḥălā} ‘inheritance’ as the subject, modified by the Piel participle mevohelet {מְבֹהֶ֣לֶת | mĕvōhéleṯ}. The temporal phrase ba-rishonah {בָּרִאשֹׁונָ֑ה | bā-rī-ʾshō-nāh} ‘at the beginning’ leads into a parallel clause introduced by the vav-conjunction ve-acharitah {וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ | wəʾăḥărîṯāh} ‘and its end.’ The negative particle lo {לֹ֣א | lōʾ} negates the Piel imperfect tevorach {תְבֹרָֽךְ | təvōräḥ} ‘will be blessed,’ constructing a clear antithesis between early haste and later consequence. |