psalm 3 chiastic structure

Read Psalm 3 at Bible Gateway.

Psalm 3 paragraph divisions from the Hebrew Bible:

Psa 3:- A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.
Psa 3:1 Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.
Psa 3:2 Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah
Psa 3:3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
Psa 3:4 I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
Psa 3:5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
Psa 3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.
Psa 3:7a Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; {n}
Psa 3:7b You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Psa 3:8 Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah {p}

Psalm 3 chiastic structure:

1a) Psa 3:1-2, Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me + say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah;

1b) Psa 3:3, But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head;

1c) Psa 3:4, I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah;

central axis) Psa 3:5-6, I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me; I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around;

2c) Psa 3:7a, Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God!

2b) Psa 3:7b, For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; {n} You have broken the teeth of the ungodly;

2a) Psa 3:8 {p} Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah.

A pair: Trouble and many people (or even demonic forces) have come against me, but my salvation from it and them belongs to YHVH (it does not belong to me). His blessing is upon me and remains so no matter how much trouble or how many beings come against me.

B pair: When others talk hopeless situations and destruction, I tell myself the truth of God’s word and speak reality to my heart. That truth talk becomes my reality (2B), not their false talk.

C pair: I take action: I pray, I ask for His intervention and salvation, and I trust that He has heard me.

Therefore in the midst of the trouble, before my eyes see the resolution, I lay down and sleep in peace, waking up again, fearing not, for it is the Lord who is sustaining me. ♥

For further reading:

psalm 3, when Yehovah is for us