כִּ֤י הִנֵּ֪ה הָרְשָׁעִ֡ים יִדְרְכ֬וּן קֶ֗שֶׁת כֹּונְנ֣וּ חִצָּ֣ם עַל־יֶ֑תֶר לִירֹ֥ות בְּמֹו־֝אֹ֗פֶל לְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃
For behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have prepared their arrow upon the string, to shoot in darkness at the upright of heart.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | כִּי | ki | “for” | Conjunction |
| 2 | הִנֵּה | hinneh | “behold” | Demonstrative particle |
| 3 | הָרְשָׁעִים | ha-reshaʿim | “the wicked” | Def. art. הַ + N mp |
| 4 | יִדְרְכוּן | yidrekhun | “they bend” | Qal imperfect 3mp |
| 5 | קֶשֶׁת | qeshet | “bow” | N fs |
| 6 | כּוֹנְנוּ | konenu | “they have prepared” | Polel perfect 3mp |
| 7 | חִצָּם | ḥitsam | “their arrow” | N ms + suff 3mp |
| 8 | עַל־יֶתֶר | ʿal-yeter | “upon the string” | Prep עַל + N ms |
| 9 | לִירוֹת | lirot | “to shoot” | Prep לְ + Qal infinitive construct |
| 10 | בְּמוֹ־אֹפֶל | bemo-ʾofel | “in darkness” | Prep בְּ + noun ms |
| 11 | לְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵב | leyishrei-lev | “at the upright of heart” | Prep לְ + Adj mp construct + N ms |
Morphology
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the reason or explanation for the previous statement.
- הִנֵּה (hinneh) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle; Form: Demonstrative particle; Translation: “behold”; Notes: Draws attention to a vivid or urgent situation.
- הָרְשָׁעִים (ha-reshaʿim) – Root: רשע (rashaʿ); Root Type: III-Guttural (ע); Form: Definite article הַ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “the wicked”; Notes: Refers to morally corrupt individuals opposing the righteous.
- יִדְרְכוּן (yidrekhun) – Root: דרך (darakh); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they bend”; Notes: Literally “they tread,” used idiomatically for bending a bow.
- קֶשֶׁת (qeshet) – Root: קשׁת (q-sh-t); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “bow”; Notes: Refers to the weapon used for shooting arrows.
- כּוֹנְנוּ (konenu) – Root: כון (kun); Root Type: Hollow (II-Waw); Binyan: Polel; Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have prepared”; Notes: Indicates deliberate preparation of the arrow for attack.
- חִצָּם (ḥitsam) – Root: חץ (ḥets); Root Type: Geminate; Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “their arrow”; Notes: The suffix identifies possession by the wicked.
- עַל־יֶתֶר (ʿal-yeter) – Root: יתר (yeter); Root Type: I-Yod (weak); Form: Preposition עַל + noun masculine singular; Translation: “upon the string”; Notes: The arrow is placed upon the bowstring ready to be released.
- לִירוֹת (lirot) – Root: ירה (yarah); Root Type: III-He (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Preposition לְ + infinitive construct; Translation: “to shoot”; Notes: Expresses purpose for preparing the arrow.
- בְּמוֹ־אֹפֶל (bemo-ʾofel) – Root: אפל (ʾafel); Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Form: Preposition בְּ + noun masculine singular; Translation: “in darkness”; Notes: Suggests hidden or secret attack.
- לְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵב (leyishrei-lev) – Root: ישׁר (yashar) / לב (lev); Root Type: Strong; Form: Preposition לְ + adjective masculine plural construct (state: construct) + noun masculine singular; Translation: “at the upright of heart”; Notes: Describes the righteous characterized by inner moral integrity.