Read Psalm 119 at Bible Gateway.
psalm 119 chiastic structure, part one 2014 nov 05
psalm 119 chiastic structure, part two 2014 nov 06
psalm 119 chiastic structure, part three 2014 nov 07
psalm 119 chiastic structure, part four 2014 nov 08
The additions to the structure we are making are from Psa 119:65-80, the teth + yod stanzas, and Psa 119:113-128, the samech + ayin stanzas. In our initial study, all four of these stanzas formed separate chiastic structures or reverse parallelisms (see the links); but it turns out they form structures when combined as well.
Psa 119:65-80, teth + yod:
Psa 119:65-68 reverse parallelism, set apart from the rest of the structure:
1a) Psa 119:65, teth You have dealt well with Your servant; O Lord, according to Your word;
1b) Psa 119:66, Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments;
2b) Psa 119:67, Before I was afflicted I went astray; But now I keep Your word;
2a) Psa 119:68, You are good, and do good; teach me Your statutes;
Psa 119:69-80 chiastic structure:
1a) Psa 119:69-70a, The proud have forged a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart; Their heart is as fat as grease;
1b) Psa 119:70b, But I delight in Your law;
1c) Psa 119:71, It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes;
central axis) Psa 119:72, The law of Your mouth is better to me; than thousands of coins of gold and silver. {p}
2c) Psa 119:73-77a, yod That I may learn Your statutes / In faithfulness You have afflicted me:
1a) Psa 119:73, Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments;
central axis) Psa 119:74, Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, because I have hoped in Your word;
2a) Psa 119:75-77a, In faithfulness You have afflicted me / comfort me by Your merciful kindness:
Psa 119:75, I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me;
Psa 119:76, Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant;
Psa 119:77a, Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
2b) Psa 119:77b, For Your law is my delight;
2a) Psa 119:78-80, The proud + let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes:
1a) Psa 119:78a, Let the proud be ashamed;
1b) Psa 119:78b, For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood;
1c) Psa 119:78c, But I will meditate on Your precepts;
central axis) Psa 119:79a, Let those who fear You turn to me;
2c) Psa 119:79b, Those who know Your testimonies;
2b) Psa 119:80a, Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes;
2a) Psa 119:80b, That I may not be ashamed. {p}
Psa 119:113-128, samech + ayin:
1a) Psa 119:113, samech I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law;
1b) Psa 119:114-117, You are my hiding place / Depart from me, you evildoers:
1a) Psa 119:114, You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word;
central axis) Psa 119:115, Depart from me, you evildoers, for I will keep the commandments of my God!
2a) Psa 119:116-117, Do not let me be ashamed of my hope / Hold me up and I shall be safe:
116, Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope;
117, Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually;
1c) Psa 119:118-119, You put away the wicked, but I love Your testimonies:
118, You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood;
119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies;
central axis) Psa 119:120, My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments; {p}
2c) Psa 119:121-122, ayin I have done justice and righteousness, do not let the proud oppress me:
121, I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors;
122, Be surety for Your servant for good; Do not let the proud oppress me;
2b) Psa 119:123-126, I seek Your salvation + Your righteous word + Your action against evildoers:
1a) Psa 119:123, My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation and Your righteous word;
1b) Psa 119:124, Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, and teach me Your statutes;
2b) Psa 119:125, I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies;
2a) Psa 119:126, It is time for You to act, O Lord, for they have regarded Your law as void;
2a) Psa 119:127-128, I love Your commandments/ I hate every false way:
127, Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!
128, Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way. {p}
Tomorrow we will see how they add to our whole psalm chiastic structure.
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