a.vat describes distorting justice or a person’s case, and also what is made crooked, bent, or brought to ruin.

The predominant use concerns distorting justice, an individual’s cause, or honest dealing; the term also describes what is crooked or bent and harmful treatment directed against a person or a way.

1. Distorting justice, a case, or honest dealing · dominant

   In Job 8:3, two Piel imperfect forms ask whether God could distort justice and righteousness; Job 34:12 likewise denies that the Almighty would do so. Lamentations 3:36 places the Piel infinitive in the clause about subverting a man in his cause, while Amos 8:5 uses an infinitive in the merchants' plan involving false balances.

   Job 8:3Job 34:12Lamentations 3:36Amos 8:5
2. Being made crooked or bent · common

   Ecclesiastes 1:15 uses a passive participle for what the APB renders “crooked” and says cannot be made straight. Ecclesiastes 7:13 similarly contrasts making straight with what God has made crooked, and Ecclesiastes 12:3 uses a Hithpael sequential perfect where the men of strength are rendered “bent.”

   Ecclesiastes 1:15Ecclesiastes 7:13Ecclesiastes 12:3
3. Harming a person or bringing a way to ruin · common

   In Job 19:6, a Piel perfect occurs in Job's claim that God has acted against him; the APB renders the clause “God has perverted me.” Psalm 119:78 uses a plural Piel perfect of arrogant opponents acting against the speaker with deception, while Psalm 146:9 places a Piel imperfect in the contrast between the LORD's care for vulnerable people and the wicked's way, rendered “he brings to ruin.”

   Job 19:6Psalm 119:78Psalm 146:9

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB variously renders the relevant clauses with “pervert,” “subvert,” “crooked,” “bent,” and “brings to ruin.” These renderings show the verse-level presentation rather than fixed English equivalents.