הַצַּדִּ֣יק אָבָ֔ד וְאֵ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ שָׂ֣ם עַל־לֵ֑ב וְאַנְשֵׁי־חֶ֤סֶד נֶֽאֱסָפִים֙ בְּאֵ֣ין מֵבִ֔ין כִּֽי־מִפְּנֵ֥י הָרָעָ֖ה נֶאֱסַ֥ף הַצַּדִּֽיק׃
The righteous one perishes, and no man lays it to heart; and men of kindness are gathered, with none understanding that because of the evil the righteous one is gathered.
Morphology
- הַצַּדִּ֣יק (ha-tsaddiq) – Root: צדק; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the righteous one”; Notes: Refers to a morally upright person.
- אָבָ֔ד (ʾavad) – Root: אבד; Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “has perished”; Notes: Describes physical death or removal from life.
- וְאֵ֥ין (veʾein) – Root: אין; Form: Conjunction + existential negative particle; Translation: “and there is no”; Notes: Introduces absence of action or awareness.
- אִ֖ישׁ (ʾish) – Root: אישׁ; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “man”; Notes: Used generically for any person.
- שָׂ֣ם (sam) – Root: שים; Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “who lays” or “places”; Notes: Indicates mental engagement or concern.
- עַל־לֵ֑ב (ʿal-lev) – Root: לב; Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “to heart”; Notes: Idiom meaning “to pay attention” or “to take to heart.”
- וְאַנְשֵׁי־חֶ֤סֶד (ve-anshei-ḥesed) – Root: אישׁ, חסד; Form: Conjunction + construct noun plural + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and men of kindness”; Notes: Describes those characterized by covenantal loyalty or mercy.
- נֶֽאֱסָפִים֙ (neʾesafim) – Root: אסף; Form: Niphal participle masculine plural; Translation: “are gathered”; Notes: Passive form, often euphemism for dying.
- בְּאֵ֣ין (beʾein) – Root: אין; Form: Preposition בְ + existential negative particle; Translation: “with no”; Notes: Indicates lack or absence of the following noun.
- מֵבִ֔ין (mevin) – Root: בין; Form: Hifil participle masculine singular; Translation: “understanding”; Notes: Refers to someone who comprehends or discerns meaning.
- כִּֽי־מִפְּנֵ֥י (ki-mipnei) – Root: פן; Form: Conjunction + preposition with construct noun; Translation: “because of”; Notes: Introduces reason for what follows.
- הָרָעָ֖ה (ha-raʿah) – Root: רעע; Form: Definite noun feminine singular; Translation: “the evil”; Notes: Refers to calamity or moral evil.
- נֶאֱסַ֥ף (neʾesaf) – Root: אסף; Form: Niphal perfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “is gathered”; Notes: Euphemism for death or removal from the coming judgment.
- הַצַּדִּֽיק (ha-tsaddiq) – Root: צדק; Form: Definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “the righteous one”; Notes: Repetition underscores the focus on the innocent victim.