כִּ֤י נָבָל֙ נְבָלָ֣ה יְדַבֵּ֔ר וְלִבֹּ֖ו יַעֲשֶׂה־אָ֑וֶן לַעֲשֹׂ֣ות חֹ֗נֶף וּלְדַבֵּ֤ר אֶל־יְהוָה֙ תֹּועָ֔ה לְהָרִיק֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ רָעֵ֔ב וּמַשְׁקֶ֥ה צָמֵ֖א יַחְסִֽיר׃
For a fool speaks folly, and his heart works iniquity: to practice profaneness and to speak error against YHWH, to leave the hungry soul empty, and he deprives the thirsty of drink.
Morphology
- כִּ֤י (ki) – Root: כי; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces a reason or explanation.
- נָבָל֙ (naval) – Root: נבל; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “a fool”; Notes: A morally corrupt or godless person.
- נְבָלָ֣ה (nevalah) – Root: נבל; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “folly”; Notes: Abstract of the fool’s character; disgraceful or vile conduct.
- יְדַבֵּ֔ר (yedabber) – Root: דבר; Form: Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he speaks”; Notes: Piel intensifies the verbal action—utterly expresses.
- וְלִבֹּ֖ו (ve-libbo) – Root: לבב; Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “and his heart”; Notes: Symbol of intention and will.
- יַעֲשֶׂה־אָ֑וֶן (yaʿaseh-aven) – Root: עשה + און; Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular + noun masculine singular; Translation: “shall work iniquity”; Notes: Refers to planning and doing evil.
- לַעֲשֹׂ֣ות (laʿasot) – Root: עשה; Form: Preposition + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to do”; Notes: Introduces a purpose clause.
- חֹ֗נֶף (ḥonef) – Root: חנף; Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “profaneness”; Notes: Refers to godlessness or hypocrisy.
- וּלְדַבֵּ֤ר (u-ledabber) – Root: דבר; Form: Conjunction + Piel infinitive construct; Translation: “and to speak”; Notes: Continued purpose clause.
- אֶל־יְהוָה֙ (el-YHWH) – Root: אל; Form: Preposition + proper noun; Translation: “against YHWH”; Notes: The speech is directed *against* God, not simply toward Him.
- תֹּועָ֔ה (toʿah) – Root: תעה; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “error” or “perversion”; Notes: Falsehood or distortion of truth.
- לְהָרִיק֙ (le-harik) – Root: ריק; Form: Preposition + Hifil infinitive construct; Translation: “to empty”; Notes: Often used of depriving or making void.
- נֶ֣פֶשׁ (nefesh) – Root: נפש; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “soul”; Notes: Denotes the person or life of an individual.
- רָעֵ֔ב (raʿev) – Root: רעב; Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “hungry”; Notes: Modifies “soul”—a hungry person deprived of sustenance.
- וּמַשְׁקֶ֥ה (u-mashqeh) – Root: שׁקה; Form: Conjunction + Hifil participle masculine singular; Translation: “and the one who gives drink”; Notes: A figure of one offering water to the thirsty.
- צָמֵ֖א (tsame) – Root: צמא; Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “thirsty”; Notes: Direct object of the participle—thirsty recipient.
- יַחְסִֽיר (yaḥsir) – Root: חסר; Form: Hifil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “he deprives”; Notes: Refers to withholding provision from those in need.