STAGING SITE
Psalm 31 Poetic Structure
In YHWH's Hand
Psalm 31
Poetic Structure
In poetic structure, we analyse the structure of the psalm beginning at the most basic level of the structure: the line (also known as the “colon” or “hemistich”). Then, based on the perception of patterned similarities (and on the assumption that the whole psalm is structured hierarchically), we argue for the grouping of lines into verses, verses into sub-sections, sub-sections into larger sections, etc. Because patterned similarities might be of various kinds (syntactic, semantic, pragmatic, sonic) the analysis of poetic structure draws on all of the previous layers (especially the Discourse layer).
Poetic Macro-structure
If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.
| Emendations/Revocalizations legend | |
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| *Emended text* | Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation. |
| *Revocalized text* | Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization. |
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v. 1 For the director. A psalm by David. |
Superscription | |||
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v. 2 I have taken shelter in you, YHWH. Do not let my shame continue forever! Rescue me in your righteousness! |
Looking to the Refuge |
YHWH Be my refuge so my shame won't continue forever.
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distressed |
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v. 3 Listen to me! Rescue me quickly! Be a rock of refuge for me, and a fortress to deliver me! | ||||
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v. 4 Because you are my rock and my stronghold. And for the sake of your name, you must carefully guide me. | ||||
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v. 5 You must save me from the net which they hid for me, because you are my refuge. | ||||
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v. 6 I entrust my spirit into your hand. You have redeemed me, YHWH, God of faithfulness. |
YHWH I trust you who rescued me from distress caused by my enemies' net.
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hopeful | |
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v. 7 You hate those who worship worthless idols, but I trust YHWH. | ||||
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v. 8 I will be glad and rejoice on account of your faithfulness, that you saw my affliction. You saved my life from distress. | ||||
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v. 9 And you did not let any enemy capture me. You set my feet in a broad place. | ||||
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v. 10 Be gracious to me, YHWH, because I am in distress. My eye, my throat, and my belly waste away because of anger. |
Shamed yet Trusting |
YHWH Be gracious to me in my distress, or else I will remain scorned by my enemies.
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ashamed |
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v. 11 Because my life fades away with grief, and my years [fade away] with groaning. My strength has failed because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. | ||||
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v. 12 I have been scorned by all of my adversaries and greatly to my neighbors, and an object of fear to my friends. Those who see me in the street have fled from me. | ||||
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v. 13 I have been forgotten like a dead person from memory. I have become like a broken vessel. | ||||
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v. 14 because I heard the slander of many people —terror is on every side— when they conspired together against me. They plotted to take my life. | ||||
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v. 15 But I trust you, YHWH. I say, “You are my God.” |
YHWH But I trust you even when I do not see how you can rescue me.
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hopeful | |
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v. 16 My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from my pursuers! | ||||
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v. 17 Shine your face upon your servant! Save me by your faithfulness. | ||||
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v. 18 YHWH, do not let me be ashamed because I have called you! May the evil ones be ashamed! May they go silently to Sheol! |
Sheltered in the Refuge |
YHWH You are blessed! You shelter the faithful who were besieged and shame their enemies.
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confident |
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v. 19 May lying lips be unable to speak—those that speak insolence against the righteous, with arrogance and contempt. | ||||
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v. 20 How many are your good things which you have stored up for those who fear you, and which you have performed for those who take refuge in you for all people to see! | ||||
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v. 21 You shelter them from people’s schemes in the cover of your presence; You hide them in a shelter from contentious people. | ||||
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v. 22 Blessed is YHWH, because he has wonderfully shown his faithfulness to me in a city under siege. | ||||
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v. 23 Even though I thought in my panic I had been cut off from your sight. However, you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried out to you. | ||||
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v. 24 Love YHWH, all his loyal ones! YHWH is watching over the faithful, and he abundantly repays those who act pridefully. |
Take courage! YHWH repays the wicked! |
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joyful | |
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v. 25 Be strong so your hearts may take courage, all who wait for YHWH. | ||||
Notes
There is widespread disagreement over the poetic structure of Psalm 31. As a result, scholars argue for anywhere between two and seven major sections of the psalm.
- 2 Sections: vv. 2-9 and 10-25 (DeClaisse-Walford 2014, 300); vv. 2-19 and vv. 20-25 (Craigie 2004, 258-259); and vv. 2-21 and 22-25 (Dion 1987, 186).
- 3 Sections: vv. 2-9; 10-21; 22-25 (Brueggemann 2014, 157); and vv. 2-9; 10-19; 20-25 (Laberge 1985, 147).
- 4 Sections: vv. 2-9; 10-15; 16-23; 24-25 (Lugt 2006, 317).
- 5 Sections: vv. 2-5; 6-9; 10-13; 14-19; 20-25 (Briggs 1906, 263); and vv. 2-5; 6-9; 10-14; 15-21; 22-25 (Fokkelmann 2000, 124-128).
- 7 Sections: vv. 2-7; 8-9; 10-14; 15-16; 17-19; 20-23; 24-25 (Villanueva 2016, Psalm 31).
The most dramatic shift in the psalm occurs between v. 23 and v. 24. The first twenty-three verses are dominated by first person (64x) and second person singular (43x) references. In contrast, the final two verses address the audience directly with second person plural references (2 imperatives; 1 pronominal suffix). Further support for dividing the psalm into two major but disproportionate sections comes from the distribution of the divine name. The epithet YHWH occurs seven times in vv. 2-23. It occurs an additional three times in vv. 24-25.
- vv. 2-23: Ps 31:2-23 are bound together by the frequent use of 1st and 2nd person singular references. Additionally, the epithet YHWH appears 7 times, a number commonly associated with completion. This section consists of five subsections (vv. 2-5, 6-9, 10-15, 16-19, 20-23) that form a chiasm centered around the psalmist's poor physical condition. Further demonstrating the psalm's structural design, the beginning of each subsection in the psalm, including vv. 24-25, begin with a vocative.
- A) vv. 2-5: Refuge in YHWH
- B) vv. 6-9: Trust in YHWH
- C) vv. 10-15: The psalmist's reproach
- B') vv. 16-19: Trust in YHWH
- B) vv. 6-9: Trust in YHWH
- A') vv. 20-23: Refuge in YHWH
- vv. 2-5: The first section of the psalm (vv. 2-5) begins with a vocative (יְהוָ֣ה). The unit has several features that bind it together. First, the theme of rescue is a prominent feature throughout (פַלְּטֵֽנִי ,הַצִּ֫ילֵ֥נִי ,לְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי ,תּוֹצִיאֵ֗נִי). Second, refuge and rocky imagery is prominent as well (מָ֭עוֹז ,מְצוּד֗וֹת ,סַלְעִ֣י ,לְֽצוּר) (Dion 1987, 186). The final imperative in v. 3 unites the whole unit together. The psalmist asks YHWH to be a rock of refuge (לְֽצוּר־מָ֭עוֹז) and a fortress (לְבֵ֥ית מְצוּד֗וֹת) for him. In 4a and 5b, the psalmist declares that YHWH is a fortress (וּמְצוּדָתִ֣י) and a refuge (מָֽעוּזִּֽי) for him. The inversion of the word order creates a chiasm focused around the psalmist's request.
- vv. 6-9: The second section of the psalm (vv. 6-9) begins in a similar manner to the first section. The first word is בְּיָדְךָ֮, which is sounds similar to בְּךָ֖ (v. 2) (Fokkelman 2000, 124). Additionally, verse six contains the psalm's second vocative (יְהוָ֗ה). The opening and closing of this section is also marked by an inclusio. The psalmist begins by placing entrusting his spirit into YHWH's hand. He ends the section by thanking YHWH for not delivering him into the hand of his enemy. Additionally, he thanks YHWH for placing his feet in a broad place. Thus, the section plays with both the contrast between YHWH's hand and the enemy's hand and the idea of hands and feet. Finally, the section is marked by the frequent use of 2ms qatal verbs in the first position (6b, 7a, 8b, 8c, 9a, 9b) (cf., Dion 1987, 187)
- vv. 10-14: As with the preceding two sections, the psalm's third section begins with a vocative (יְהוָה֮). This section is marked by the density of first person singular references (Dion 1987, 187). Notably, besides the last two verses that introduce new participants, this is the only section in the psalm in which the second person singular is absent. Next, vv. 10-14 contain only qatal verbs (Fokkelman 2000, 125). Additionally, the section opens and closes with a reference to the psalmist's soul (נַפְשִׁ֣י).
- vv. 15-17: The fourth section of the psalm also includes a vocative (יְֽהוָ֗ה) in the first line. The section has numerous lexical parallels with vv. 6-9. It repeats the line from v. 7b (וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ עָלֶ֣יךָ בָטַ֣חְתִּי יְהוָ֑ה) and also contrasts YHWH's hand (בְּיָדְךָ֥) with the hand of the psalmist's enemies (מִיַּד־א֝וֹיְבַ֗י). Finally, it repeats the key words "faithfulness" (בְחַסְדֶּֽךָ) and "save me" (ה֖וֹשִׁיעֵ֣נִי)
- vv. 18-23: The fifth section of the psalm begins with another vocative (יְֽהוָ֗ה). Additionally, the section calls back to the beginning of the psalm (v. 2) in several ways. First, it repeats key words (אֵ֭בוֹשָׁה and לַחֹסִ֣ים בָּ֑ךְ). Though not repeated roots, vv. 18-23 also contains the theme of shelter (e.g., [תַּסְתִּירֵ֤ם ׀ בְּסֵ֥תֶר ,בְּסֻכָּ֗ה ,בְּעִ֣יר מָצֽוֹר]) that ties the fifth section back to the first section. This section consists of three smaller subsections:
- vv. 18-19: The first subsection of vv. 18-23 contains a series of three third masculine singular jussives. The theme of silence further binds the verses together.
- vv. 20-21: The second subsection of vv. 18-23 begins with a declaration of God's goodness that counters the abundant lies heard by the psalmist when he was surrounded (v. 14). The repetition of צפן forms an inclusio for the section.
- vv. 22-23: The third subsection of vv. 18-23 is tied together with וַאֲנִ֤י. It expresses the psalmist's thoughts while he was in a besieged city. He praises YHWH for hearing his cries even though he thought he had been cut off from YHWH.
- vv. 24-25: The sixth and final section of the psalm continues the pattern of beginning with a vocative (כָּֽל־חֲסִ֫ידָ֥יו). Additionally, these lines mark the first time the psalmist shifts his focus to the audience. They are marked by the 2mp imperatives (אֶֽהֱב֥וּ; חִ֭זְקוּ) and the 2mp suffix (לְבַבְכֶ֑ם). They are the only imperatives that are not addressed to YHWH (Lugt 2006, 317). Also, the divine name (YHWH) appears three times in these verses. It appears seven times in vv. 2-23. Finally, the two verses are bound together by an inclusio (כָּֽל plus vocative).
Line Divisions
Line division divides the poem into lines and line groupings. We determine line divisions based on a combination of external evidence (Masoretic accents, pausal forms, manuscripts) and internal evidence (syntax, prosodic word counting and patterned relation to other lines). Moreover, we indicate line-groupings by using additional spacing.
When line divisions are uncertain, we consult some of the many psalms manuscripts which lay out the text in lines. Then, if a division attested in one of these manuscripts/versions influences our decision to divide the text at a certain point, we place a green symbol (G, DSS, or MT) to the left of the line in question.
| Poetic line division legend | |
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| Pausal form | Pausal forms are highlighted in yellow. |
| Accent which typically corresponds to line division | Accents which typically correspond to line divisions are indicated by red text. |
| | | Clause boundaries are indicated by a light gray vertical line in between clauses. |
| G | Line divisions that follow Greek manuscripts are indicated by a bold green G. |
| DSS | Line divisions that follow the Dead Sea Scrolls are indicated by a bold green DSS. |
| M | Line divisions that follow Masoretic manuscripts are indicated by a bold green M. |
| Number of prosodic words | The number of prosodic words are indicated in blue text. |
| Prosodic words greater than 5 | The number of prosodic words if greater than 5 is indicated by bold blue text. |
If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.
| Emendations/Revocalizations legend | |
|---|---|
| *Emended text* | Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation. |
| *Revocalized text* | Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization. |
Notes
- v. 2: Ancient manuscripts provide two options for dividing this verse into lines. The Septuagint divides v. 2 into two lines, which follows the Masoretic accent marks. When the verse is divided into two lines it exhibits a symmetrical design. Both lines start with the following sequence: bet preposition > reference to YHWH > verb. The presence of extra words (καὶ ἐξελοῦ με), however, likely influenced the Septuagint's division of v. 2 into three lines. See the Grammar notes for a discussion of this text-critical issue.
- (Preferred): A 9th century Hebrew manuscript supports dividing the verse into three lines (cf. Berlin Qu 680). Modern translators and most modern commentators adopt this approach and divide the verse according to the clause division. The three line division enhances the symmetry observed in the two-line division. The bet preposition begins the first and third lines of the verse. Additionally, the verbs alternate between the first and second position in each line.
- | בְּךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה חָ֭סִיתִי
- | אַל־אֵב֣וֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָ֑ם
- | בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֥ פַלְּטֵֽנִי ׃
- v. 3: As with v. 2, the ancient manuscripts provide two options for dividing v. 3. The Septuagint supports dividing the verse into four lines, while Berlin Qu 680 supports dividing it into three lines. According to the LXX's delineation, the first two clauses represent two lines (הַטֵּ֤ה אֵלַ֨י אָזְנְךָ֮ |מְהֵרָ֪ה הַצִּ֫ילֵ֥נִי). In contrast, these clauses represent one line in Berlin Qu 680. Unlike with v. 2, there are no text-critical issues to explain the different options. In instance, the Septuagint's delineation is preferred, because it continues the verbal pattern observed in the tri-partite division of v. 2 through the first three lines of the verse.
- הַטֵּ֤ה אֵלַ֨י אָזְנְךָ֮
- מְהֵרָ֪ה הַצִּ֫ילֵ֥נִי
- הֱיֵ֤ה לִ֨י לְֽצוּר־מָ֭עוֹז
- לְבֵ֥ית מְצוּד֗וֹת לְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃
- v. 7: For a discussion of the emendation, see The Text of Psalm 31:7.
- v. 8: For a discussion of the emendation, see the grammar notes.
- v. 11: The Septuagint divides v. 11 into four lines. According to this delineation, the second and fourth line both begin with a waw conjunction. While this provides a sense of symmetry, the word count of the lines is inconsistent (4, 2, 3, 2). The Pss Scroll from Nahal Hever, however, divides the verse into two lines, which provides a stronger sense of symmetry. According to this delineation, the lines consistent of 6 and 5 words respectively. Additionally, the lines have an equal number of syllables (i.e., 15).
- v. 12: The ṣinnor on מְאֹד֮ is preceded by the azla legarmeh on וְלִשֲׁכֵנַ֨י. Moreover, the final line includes two clauses. While the atnach normally indicates a line division, the LXX and the vast majority of modern translations have four Hebrew words in the last line.
- v. 13: There is an interesting pattern in this verse that suggests it should be divided into three lines. The ending sounds follow this pattern: i (נִ֭שְׁכַּחְתִּי), e (כְּמֵ֣ת) | e (מִלֵּ֑ב), i (הָ֝יִ֗יתִי) | i (כִּכְלִ֥י), e (אֹבֵֽד). Pierre Auffret refers to this as a pivot pattern. The phrase מִלֵּ֑ב הָ֝יִ֗יתִי functions as a "double-duty modifier." Auffret suggests that the phrase refers to both comparisons in the verse (כִּכְלִ֥י; כְּמֵ֣ת) (Auffret 1978, 104-106).
- v. 14: The ṣinnor on רַבִּים֮ is preceded by the azla legarmeh on שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי.
- v. 20: The ṣinnor on טוּבְךָ֮ is preceded by the mehuppah on מָ֤ה.