| 28. Linguistic Exegesis The proverb presents a two-part adversative structure introduced by the conjunction ve- {וְ | wə-} linking contrasting clauses. In the first clause, the construct ed-kezavim {עֵד־כְּזָבִ֥ים | ʿed-kə-zā-vîm} ‘false witness’ functions as subject with the Qal imperfect yoved {יֹאבֵד | yō-ʾā-ḇēḏ} ‘will perish,’ depicting inevitable destruction. The second clause begins with ve-ish {וְאִישׁ | wə-ʾîš} ‘and man’ plus the participle shomea {שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗עַ | šō-mē-aʿ} used substantively as ‘one who hears,’ followed by the prepositional phrase lanetzach {לָנֶצַח | lā-ne-ṣaḥ} indicating duration ‘forever,’ and concludes with the Piel imperfect yedabber {יְדַבֵּֽר | yə-dab-bēr} ‘will speak,’ emphasizing sustained testimony. The parallelism contrasts the demise of deceit with the enduring nature of receptive speech. |