| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the noun machshevot {מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת | maḥ-še-vōṯ} ‘thoughts’, functioning as the subject. The adjective charuts {חָ֭רוּץ | ḥā-rûṣ} ‘diligent’ is used substantively to specify the actor. The result clause is marked by the particle-preposition phrase akh-le-motar {אַךְ-לְמוֹתָ֑ר | ʾăḵ-lə-mō-tār} ‘surely to abundance’. In the parallel clause the prefixed expression we-kol-atz {וְכָל-אָ֝֗ץ | wə-ḵōl-āṣ} ‘and every hasty one’ pairs with akh-le-machsor {אַךְ-לְמַחְסֽוֹר | ʾăḵ-lə-maḥ-sôr} ‘only to lack’ to complete the contrast. The chiastic arrangement and repetition of the particle akh create emphasis on the inevitability of these outcomes, and the English uses “but” to signal the stark opposition. |