psalm 31 chiastic structure

Read Psalm 31 at Bible Gateway.

Psa 31 paragraph divisions:

Psa 31:1 In You, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in Your righteousness.
Psa 31:2a Incline Your ear to me; deliver me speedily: {n}
Psa 31:2b, Be You to me a rock of refuge, even a fortress of defense, to save me.
Psa 31:3 For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore for Your name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
Psa 31:4 Pull me out of the net that they have hidden for me: for You are my stronghold.
Psa 31:5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit: You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
Psa 31:6 I hate them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
Psa 31:7a I will be glad and rejoice in Your lovingkindness: {n}
Psa 31:7b, For You have seen my affliction; You are aware of the troubles of my soul;
Psa 31:8 And You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy: You have set my feet in a broad place.
Psa 31:9a Be gracious unto me, O LORD, for I am in distress: {n}
Psa 31:9b, My eye is consumed with vexation, yes, my soul and my body.
Psa 31:10a For my life is spent in sorrow, and my years in sighing: {n}
Psa 31:10b, My strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are wasted away.
Psa 31:11a Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, yea, especially unto my neighbors, and a dread to my acquaintance: {n}
Psa 31:11b, They that see me without flee from me.
Psa 31:12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
Psa 31:13a For I have heard the whispering of many: terror on every side: {n}
Psa 31:13b While they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
Psa 31:14 But as for me, I have trusted in You, O LORD: I have said, You are my God.
Psa 31:15 My times are in Your hand: deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Psa 31:16 Make Your face to shine upon Your servant: save me in Your lovingkindness.
Psa 31:17 O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called upon You: let the wicked be ashamed; let them be put to silence in the grave.
Psa 31:18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
Psa 31:19a Oh how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for them that fear You; {n}
Psa 31:19b, Which You have wrought for them that take their refuge in You, before the sons of men!
Psa 31:20a You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plottings of man: {n}
Psa 31:20b, You conceal them in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
Psa 31:21 Blessed be the LORD: for he has shown me His marvelous lovingkindness in an fortified city.
Psa 31:22a As for me, I said in my haste, I am cut off from before Your eyes: {n}
Psa 31:22b, Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried unto You.
Psa 31:23a O love the LORD, all you His godly ones: {n}
Psa 31:23b, The LORD preserves the faithful, and plentifully repays him who does haughtily.
Psa 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you that hope in the LORD.

Psa 31 chiastic structure:

1a) Psa 31:1a, In You, O LORD, have I taken refuge;

1b) Psa 31:1b, Let me never be ashamed;

1c) Psa 31:1c-5, Deliver me in Your righteousness, for into Your hand I commit my spirit:

1a) Psa 31:1c-2a, Deliver me in Your righteousness + incline Your ear to deliver me speedily {n}:
1b) Psa 31:2b-3, Be my rock + fortress/ therefore for Your name’s sake lead + guide me:

1) Psa 31:2b-3a, Be my rock and fortress;
2) Psa 31:3b, Your name: for Your name’s sake lead + guide me;

central axis) Psa 31:4a, Pull me out of the net that they have hidden for me;
2b) Psa 31:4b-5a, As You are my stronghold/ therefore into Your hand I commit my spirit:

1) Psa 31:4b, For You are my stronghold;
2) Psa 31:5a, Your hand: into Your hand I commit my spirit;

2a) Psa 31:5b, You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

1d) Psa 31:6a, I hate them that regard lying vanities;

1e) Psa 31:6b, But I trust in the LORD;

1f) Psa 31:7-9a, I rejoice in Your lovingkindness/ You have not given me over to my enemies:

1a) Psa 31:7a, I will be glad + rejoice in Your lovingkindness, {n} for You have seen my affliction;
1b) Psa 31:7b, You are aware of the troubles of my soul;
central axis) Psa 31:8a, You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy;
2b) Psa 31:8b, You have set my feet in a broad place;
2a) Psa 31:9a, Be gracious unto me, O LORD, for I am in distress. {n}

1g) Psa 31:9b-10a, My eye is consumed, even my soul + body, for my life is spent in sorrow + sighing {n};

central axis) Psa 31:10b, My strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are wasted away;

2g) Psa 31:11-12, Because of my adversaries I have become a reproach + dread {n}, I am forgotten + broken;

2f) Psa 31:13, I have heard the whisperings: terror on every side: {n}/ While my enemies took counsel against me;

2e) Psa 31:14a, But as for me, I have trusted in You, O LORD;

2d) Psa 31:14b, I have said, You are my God;

2c) Psa 31:15-16, My times are in Your hand: deliver me from my enemies in Your lovingkindness;

2b) Psa 31:17-18, Let me not be ashamed:

1a) Psa 31:17a, O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called upon You;
1b) Psa 31:17b, Let the wicked be ashamed;
1c) Psa 312:17c, Let them be put to silence;
central axis) Psa 31:17d, In the grave;
2c) Psa 31:18a, Let the lying lips be put to silence;
2b) Psa 31:18b, Which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously;
2a) Psa 31:18c, Against the righteous.

2a) Psa 31:19-24, The fate of those who take refuge in the LORD:

1a) Psa 31:19, Your great goodness which You have wrought for them that take refuge in You;
1b) Psa 31:20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from plots + strife of men;
1c) Psa 31:21, Blessed be the LORD who has shown me His marvelous lovingkindness;.
central axis) Psa 31:22, I said hastily, I am cut off from before You, but You heard my cry;
2c) Psa 31:23a, O love the LORD, all you His godly ones; {n}
2b) Psa 31:23b, The LORD preserves the faithful, and plentifully repays him who does haughtily;
2a) Psa 31:24, Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you that hope in the LORD.

I know that many believe that perilous times are coming. I believe simply that the distinction between the Lord’s people and the world’s people will become sharper, the gulf greater. Those who call the Lord God will increase in purity, righteousness, sanctification in the word and the Spirit, and the manifestation of His power to express His love for mankind before the end. Those who take the world for their god (those who regard lying vanities) will increase in depravity, all the while, it seems, calling it true goodness and righteousness, lashing out against those who disagree.

But fear not. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Not everything you have been told about the end times has been the truth. The Lord has triumphed over all the power of the enemy. Did we not just celebrate His great victory? God preserves the faithful, and plentifully repays him who does haughtily. Let us, while peace prevails, dwell in the secret place of the Lord’s presence (this puts me in mind of Psa 91), seek Him and His righteousness. You need not worry. All you need will be added to you (Mat 6:33). ♥