רַגְלֵיהֶם֙ לָרַ֣ע יָרֻ֔צוּ וִֽימַהֲר֔וּ לִשְׁפֹּ֖ךְ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑י מַחְשְׁבֹֽותֵיהֶם֙ מַחְשְׁבֹ֣ות אָ֔וֶן שֹׁ֥ד וָשֶׁ֖בֶר בִּמְסִלֹּותָֽם׃
Their feet run to evil, and they hasten to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; destruction and ruin are in their paths.
Morphology
- רַגְלֵיהֶם (ragleihem) – Root: רגל (regel); Form: Noun feminine plural construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their feet”; Notes: Instrument of movement, metaphor for pursuit.
- לָרַע (la-raʿ) – Root: רעע (raʿ); Form: Preposition + definite noun masculine singular; Translation: “to evil”; Notes: Indicates direction or purpose.
- יָרֻצוּ (yarutsu) – Root: רץ (ruts); Form: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they run”; Notes: Expresses eager or habitual action.
- וִימַהֲרוּ (vi-yemaharu) – Root: מהר (mahar); Form: Conjunction + Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “and they hasten”; Notes: Intensifies the urgency and intent.
- לִשְׁפֹּךְ (lishpokh) – Root: שׁפך (shafakh); Form: Preposition + Qal infinitive construct; Translation: “to shed”; Notes: Infinitive of action—acts of violence.
- דָּם (dam) – Root: דם (dam); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “blood”; Notes: Refers here to life taken unjustly.
- נָקִי (naqi) – Root: נקה (naqah); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “innocent”; Notes: Indicates moral innocence or lack of guilt.
- מַחְשְׁבֹותֵיהֶם (maḥshevoteihem) – Root: חשב (ḥashav); Form: Noun feminine plural construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “their thoughts”; Notes: Reflects internal deliberation or plans.
- מַחְשְׁבֹות (maḥshevot) – Root: חשב (ḥashav); Form: Noun feminine plural; Translation: “thoughts”; Notes: Repetition for poetic emphasis.
- אָוֶן (aven) – Root: און (aven); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “iniquity”; Notes: Indicates moral corruption or wickedness.
- שֹׁד (shod) – Root: שׁדד (shadad); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “destruction”; Notes: Refers to violent devastation or plundering.
- וָשֶׁבֶר (va-shever) – Root: שׁבר (shavar); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “and ruin”; Notes: Describes collapse or crushing ruin.
- בִּמְסִלֹּותָם (bi-mesillotam) – Root: מסל (masal); Form: Preposition + noun feminine plural construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “in their paths”; Notes: Indicates the habitual way or course of their life and actions.