psalm 71 chiastic structure

Read Psalm 71 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

1 In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; Let me never be put to shame.
2 Deliver me in Your righteousness, and rescue me; Incline Your ear to me, and save me.
3a Be my sheltering rock, To which I may resort continually, which You have appointed to save me; {n}
3b For You are my rock and my fortress.
4 O God, rescue me out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5 For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth.
6 Upon You I have stayed myself from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You.
7 I have become as a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge.
8 Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails.
10 For my enemies speak against me; And those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together,
11 Saying, “God has forsaken him; Pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him.”
12 O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!
13 Let them be confounded and consumed Who are adversaries of my life; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor Who seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.
15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And Your salvation all the day, For I do not know their limits.
16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.
17 O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.
18a And even unto old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, {n}
18b Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.
19a Also Your righteousness, O God, reaches unto high heaven, {n}
19b You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?
20a You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, {n}
20b Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21 You shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side.
22a I also with give thanks unto You with the psaltery, even unto Your truth, O my God! {n}
22b I will sing praises to You with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed.
24a My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; {n}
24b For they are confounded, For they are brought to shame Who seek my hurt. {p}

The chiastic structure:

1a) Psa 71:1, In You I put my trust, let me never be put to shame;

1b) Psa 71:2a, Deliver me in Your righteousness;

1c) Psa 71:2b, Incline Your ear to me and save me;

1d) Psa 71:3, You are my strong refuge, {n} You are my rock and my fortress;

1e) Psa 71:4, Deliver me out of the hand of the wicked

1f) Psa 71:5-6, In You I have trusted from my youth + You took me from my mother’s womb;

1g) Psa 71:7-8, I have become a wonder to many + Let my mouth be filled with Your praise;

1h) Psa 71:9, Do not cast me off in time of old age;

1i) Psa 71:10-11, My enemies speak against me + that God has forsaken me;

central axis) Psa 71:12-13, “My God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! Let them be confounded and consumed who are adversaries of my life; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor who seek my hurt;”

2i) Psa 71:14-16, I will praise You more and more + speak of Your righteousness and salvation;

2h) Psa 71:17-18, Now also when I am old and grayheaded do not forsake me {n};

2g) Psa 71:19, You who have done great things {n} + who is like You?;

2f) Psa 71:20, {n} You shall revive me again and bring me up from the depths of the earth;

2e) Psa 71:21, You shall increase my greatness and comfort me on every side;

2d) Psa 71:22-23a, Praise of God’s faithfulness;

2c) Psa 71:23b, You have redeemed my soul;

2b) Psa 71:24a, My tongue shall also talk of Your righteousness all day long; {n}

2a) Psa 71:24b, They are brought to shame who seek my hurt. {p}