| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with a construct chain anshei latson {אַנְשֵׁ֣י לָ֭צוֹן | ʾăn·šê lā·ṣôn} ‘men of mockery’, defining a group by contempt. The Hiphil imperfect yafichu {יָפִ֣יחוּ | yā·pî·ḥû} ‘they kindle’ predicates an active causative stirring with kiryah {קִרְיָ֑ה | qir·yāh} ‘city’ as its direct object, highlighting the target of provocation. The adversative vav in vachachamim {וַ֝חֲכָמִים | va·ḥă·ḵā·mîm} ‘but wise men’ signals a contrasting parallel clause. The corresponding Hiphil yashivu {יָשִׁ֥יבוּ | yā·šî·ḇû} ‘they turn back’ governs af {אָֽף | ʾā·p̄} ‘wrath’, indicating the removal or defusing of anger. The antithetical structure emphasizes the opposing effects of contemptuous and wise actions. |