אַל־תַּאֲמִ֣ינוּ בְרֵ֔עַ אַֽל־תִּבְטְח֖וּ בְּאַלּ֑וּף מִשֹּׁכֶ֣בֶת חֵיקֶ֔ךָ שְׁמֹ֖ר פִּתְחֵי־פִֽיךָ׃
Do not believe in a friend, do not trust in a confidant; from the one lying in your bosom, guard the openings of your mouth.
Morphology
- אַל (ʾal) — Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “do not”; Notes: Prohibitive negation used with imperfect verbs.
- תַּאֲמִינוּ (taʾaminu) — Root: אמן (ʾ-m-n); Form: Hiphil imperfect 2mp; Translation: “you shall believe”; Notes: Causative—“place trust in.”
- בְרֵעַ (ve-reaʿ) — Root: רע (r-ʿ); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in a friend”; Notes: Refers to a close associate or companion.
- אַל (ʾal) — Root: אל (ʾ-l); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “do not”; Notes: Parallel prohibition.
- תִּבְטְחוּ (tivteḥu) — Root: בטח (b-ṭ-ḥ); Form: Qal imperfect 2mp; Translation: “you shall trust”; Notes: Trust placed in an unreliable human source.
- בְּאַלּוּף (be-alluf) — Root: אלף (ʾ-l-f); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in a confidant / intimate companion”; Notes: A mentor, guide, or intimate friend.
- מִשֹּׁכֶבֶת (mi-shokhevet) — Root: שׁכב (sh-kh-v); Form: Preposition מִן + Qal participle feminine singular; Translation: “from the one lying”; Notes: Refers to a spouse or intimate partner.
- חֵיקֶךָ (ḥeykekha) — Root: חיק (ḥ-y-q); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 2ms; Translation: “your bosom”; Notes: A place of closeness and intimacy.
- שְׁמֹר (shemor) — Root: שׁמר (sh-m-r); Form: Qal imperative 2ms; Translation: “guard”; Notes: Command to exercise caution.
- פִּתְחֵי (pitḥei) — Root: פתח (p-t-ḥ); Form: Noun masculine plural construct; Translation: “openings of”; Notes: Figurative for words or speech.
- פִיךָ (pikha) — Root: פה (p-h); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 2ms; Translation: “your mouth”; Notes: Speech requires guarding even among intimates.