| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the repetitive lament ad anah {עַד־אָנָה | ʿad ʾā-nāh} 'how long', forming two parallel questions. In the first question the Qal imperfect ashit {אָשִׁית | ʾā-šît} 'I set' paired with the plural noun etzot {עֵצוֹת | ʿê-ṣôt} 'counsels' and the prepositional construct benafshi {בְּנַפְשִׁי | bə-naf-šî} 'in my soul' depicts ongoing internal deliberation. The phrase yagon bilvavi yomam {יָגוֹן בִּלְבָבִי יוֹמָם | yā-gôn bil-vā-vî yō-mām} 'sorrow in my heart daily' uses asyndeton to emphasize unceasing grief. The second ad anah {עַד־אָנָה | ʿad ʾā-nāh} 'how long' shifts external focus as the Qal imperfect yarum {יָרוּם | yā-rûm} 'will be exalted' with the construct noun oyvi {אֹיְבִי | ʾōy-vî} 'my enemy' and the prepositional phrase alai {עָלָי | ʿā-lāy} 'over me' conveys oppressive dominance. This chiastic arrangement contrasts internal anguish with external pressure and the English reconstructions preserve the Hebrew imperfect aspect and parallel question pattern. |