Psalm 37/Notes/Grammar.v. 8.909540

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The lamed preposition + infinitive construct (לְהָרֵעַ) modifies the clause and indicates the result of becoming upset ("so dass du nur schadest" [Jenni 2000, 220]; cf. Deut 9:8, 20; 29:26; cf. LXX: μὴ παραζήλου ὥστε πονηρεύεσθαι). The particle אַךְ modifies לְהָרֵעַ, indicating that "doing evil" is the only possible outcome of getting angry. As Hupfeld explains, "Anger only serves to lead a person into sin, particularly inappropriate speech against God (cf. Pss 39:2; 73:2)... such that the person himself falls in with the evildoers" (1868, 307).