psalm 119 chiastic structure, part one

Read Psalm 119 at Bible Gateway.

The bookends of the psalm, Psa 119:1-16, and Psa 119:161-176, pair. Below are their original structures; following are the pairings.

Psa 119:1-16, aleph + beth:

1a) Psa 119:1-8, aleph Blessed are those who walk in your ways / Do not forget me:

1) Psa 119:1-3, Blessed are those who walk in the Lord’s ways:

1a) Psa 119:1, Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord!
central axis) Psa 119:2, Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!
2a) Psa 119:3, They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways;

2) Psa 119:4-5, Your mouth has directed us to keep your precepts + statutes:

Psa 119:4, You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently;
Psa 119:5, Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!

3) Psa 119:6, Then I would not be ashamed, when I consider all Your commandments;
4) Psa 119:7, I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments;
5) Psa 119:8, I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly! {p}

1b) Psa 119:9a, beth How can a young man cleanse his way?

1c) Psa 119:9b, By taking heed according to Your word;

central axis) Psa 119:10, With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

2c) Psa 119:11a, Your word I have hidden in my heart;

2b) Psa 119:11b, That I might not sin against You;

2a) Psa 119:12-16 {p} Blessed are You + teach me Your ways / I will not forget You:

1) Psa 119:12, Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes;
2) Psa 119:13, With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth;
4) Psa 119:14, I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches;
3) Psa 119:15, I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways;
5) Psa 119:16, I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. {p}

Psa 119:161-176, shin + tau:

1a) Psa 119:161, shin Trouble without, but I am in awe of Your word:

1) Psa 119:161a, Princes persecute me without a cause;
2) Psa 119:161b, But my heart stands in awe of Your word;

1b) Psa 119:162-168, I love + do Your law / I praise You for Your righteous judgments / I hope for Your salvation:

1a) Psa 119:162-163, I rejoice in and love Your law:

Psa 119:162, I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure;
Psa 119:163, I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your law;

1b) Psa 119:164, Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments;
central axis) Psa 119:165, Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble;
2b) Psa 119:166, Lord, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your commandments;
2a) Psa 119:167-168, I keep and love Your testimonies:

Psa 119:167, My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly.
Psa 119:168, I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You. {p}

1c) Psa 119:169, tau Let my cry come before You, O Lord; give me understanding according to Your word;

2c) Psa 119:170, Let my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your word;

2b) Psa 119:171-175, I delight in + choose Your law / I praise You for Your righteous judgments / I long for Your salvation:

1a) Psa 119:171-172, My lips shall praise You for Your commandments are righteousness:

Psa 119:171, My lips shall utter praise, for You teach me Your statutes;
Psa 119:172, My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness;

1b) Psa 119:173, Let Your hand become my help, for I have chosen Your precepts;
2b) Psa 119:174, I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight;
2a) Psa 119:175, Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; and let Your judgments help me;

2a) Psa 119:176, Trouble within, but I do not forget Your commandments:

1) Psa 119:176a, I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant; {n}
2) Psa 119:176b, For I do not forget Your commandments. {p}

Now, the amazing bookends of the whole psalm chiastic structure formed by these four stanzas:

Psa 119:1-176 chiastic structure:

introduction) Psa 119:1, Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord!

1a) Psa 119:1-3 + 1-16 central axis) Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! (vs. 2) With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! (vs. 10)

1b) Psa 119:7 + 14, I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments; I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches;

2b) Psa 119:162 + 164, I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure; Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments; (repeated in vs. 171-175)

2a) Psa 119:176a, I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant; {n}

conclusion) Psa 119:176b, For I do not forget Your commandments. {p}

We will continue unpacking the whole psalm chiastic structure tomorrow. But let me just say, if we are to seek the Lord with our whole heart, don’t you think the Lord seeks us with His whole heart? The answer is YES, as the chiastic structure is revealing! ♥