“wickedness perverts a sinner.” The last phase in the Hebrew text reads: “wickedness perverts (or “overthrows”) sin,” or “wickedness perverts a sin offering.” The Hebrew word chatta’ah (#02403 חַטָּאָה) can mean either “sin” or “sin offering.” This is an amphibologia, a double entendre; both meanings are valid and important. If the Hebrew is understood as “sin,” the verse is a metonymy of effect for the one who sins, the sinner. Wickedness perverts and overthrows the sinner and causes his ruin and eventual everlasting death. However, wickedness also perverts and ruins the sin offering. When we purposely sin, our prayers and sacrificial offerings are ignored by God, and can even be an abomination to Him. It is clear in both the Old Testament and New Testament that if a person lives in disregard of God and His commands, that person will not receive the blessings of God (cp. Deut. 31:16-18; Prov. 15:8; Isa. 1:11-15; 58:1-9; 59:1-8; 66:1-4; Jer. 7:21-29; 14:10-12; Amos 5:21-24; Mic. 3:9-12; 6:6-8; Rom. 2:13-16; James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5).