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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Proverbs

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of divided by 3


3-1

1 Prologue (1:1-7)
  2 Invitation of wisdom (1:8-33)
    3 Value of Wisdom (2:1-22)
      4 Blessing of wisdom (3:1-10)
        5 Gift of wisdom (3:11-20)
          6 Exhortation of wisdom (3:21-35)
        7 Gain wisdom (4:1-9)
      8 The right way (4:10-19)
    9 Warning against evil (4:20-27)
  10 Warning against others (5:1-6)
11 Warning against adultery (5:7-23)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Prologue (1:1-7)
1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction fools despise.(1:7)
Lack of discipline11 Warning against adultery (5:7-23)
5:23 He will die from lack of discipline, through the greatness of his folly he will be lost.(5:23)
2 Invitation of wisdom (1:8-33)
1:15 My son, walk not in the way with them, hold back your foot from their path
Foot10 Warning against others (5:1-6)
5:5 Her feet go down to death, to the nether world her steps attain
3 Value of Wisdom (2:1-22)
2:8 Guarding the paths of justice, protecting the way of his pious ones. (2:8)
The way9 Warning against evil (4:20-27)
4:26 Survey the path for your feet, and let all your ways be sure. (4:26)
4 Blessing of wisdom (3:1-10)
3:6 In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths. (3:6)
The straight way8 The right way (4:10-19)
4:11 On the way of wisdom I direct you, I lead you on straightforward paths. (4:11)
5 Gift of wisdom (3:11-20)
3:13 Happy the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding!(3:13)
Get wisdom7 Gain wisdom (4:1-9)
4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words I utter. (4:5)

3-1-1

1 Prologue (1:1-7)
  2 Invitation of wisdom (1:8-33)
    3 Value of Wisdom (2:1-22)
    4 Blessing of wisdom (3:1-10)
  5 Gift of wisdom (3:11-20)
6 Exhortation of wisdom (3:21-35)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Prologue (1:1-7)
1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction fools despise.(1:7)
Fear of the LORD6 Exhortation of wisdom (3:21-35)
3:34 When he is dealing with the arrogant, he is stern, but to the humble he shows kindness.(3:34)
2 Invitation of wisdom (1:8-33)
1:23 how long will you turn away at my reproof? Lo! I will pour out to you my spirit, I will acquaint you with my words. (1:23)
Don't disdain the discipline of the LORD5 Gift of wisdom (3:11-20)
3:11 The discipline of the LORD, my son, disdain not; spurn not his reproof; (3:11)
3 Value of Wisdom (2:1-22)
2:5 Then will you understand the fear of the LORD (2:5)
Fear of the LORD4 Blessing of wisdom (3:1-10)
3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD and turn away from evil; (3:7)

3-1-2

6 Exhortation of wisdom (3:21-35)
  7 Gain wisdom (4:1-9)
    8 The right way (4:10-19)
    9 Warning against evil (4:20-27)
  10 Warning against others (5:1-6)
11 Warning against adultery (5:7-23)
Former halfRelationLatter half
6 Exhortation of wisdom (3:21-35)
see 1-1-1
see 1-1-111 Warning against adultery (5:7-23)
see 1-1-1
7 Gain wisdom (4:1-9)
see 1-1-1
see 1-1-110 Warning against others (5:1-6)
see 1-1-1
8 The right way (4:10-19)
see 1-1-1
see 1-1-19 Warning against evil (4:20-27)
see 1-1-1

3-2

11 Warning against adultery (5:7-23)
  12 Warning against laziness (6:1-19)
    13 Warning against adultery (6:20-35)
      14 Woman of adultery (7:1-23)
        15 Warning against Woman of adultery (7:24-27)
          16 Love for wisdom (8:1-31)
        17 Listen to me (8:32-36)
      18 Table of wisdom (9:1-18)
    19 Solomon's proverbs (10:1-22:16)
  20 Table of kings (22:17-23:11)
21 Fair lips (23:12-18)
Former halfRelationLatter half
11 Warning against adultery (5:7-23)
see 1-1
see 1-121 Fair lips (23:12-18)
see 1-1
12 Warning against laziness (6:1-19)
see 1-1
see 1-120 Table of kings (22:17-23:11)
see 1-1
13 Warning against adultery (6:20-35)
see 1-1
see 1-119 Solomon's proverbs (10:1-22:16)
see 1-1
14 Woman of adultery (7:1-23)
see 1-1
see 1-118 Table of wisdom (9:1-18)
see 1-1
15 Warning against Woman of adultery (7:24-27)
see 1-1
see 1-117 Listen to me (8:32-36)
see 1-1

3-2-1

11 Warning against adultery (5:7-23)
  12 Warning against laziness (6:1-19)
    13 Warning against adultery (6:20-35)
    14 Woman of adultery (7:1-23)
  15 Warning against Woman of adultery (7:24-27)
16 Love for wisdom (8:1-31)
Former halfRelationLatter half
11 Warning against adultery (5:7-23)
5:21 For each man's ways are plain to the LORD'S sight; all their paths he surveys;(5:21)
The way of the LORD16 Love for wisdom (8:1-31)
8:22 "The LORD begot me, the first-born of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;(8:22)
12 Warning against laziness (6:1-19)
6:5 Free yourself as a gazelle from the snare, or as a bird from the hand of the fowler. (6:5)
Avoid evils15 Warning against Woman of adultery (7:24-27)
7:25 Let not your heart turn to her ways, go not astray in her paths; (7:25)
13 Warning against adultery (6:20-35)
6:24 To keep you from your neighbor's wife, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. (6:24)
Another's wife14 Woman of adultery (7:1-23)
7:5 That they may keep you from another's wife, from the adulteress with her smooth words. (7:5)

3-2-2

16 Love for wisdom (8:1-31)
  17 Listen to me (8:32-36)
    18 Table of wisdom (9:1-18)
    19 Solomon's proverbs (10:1-22:16)
  20 Table of kings (22:17-23:11)
21 Fair lips (23:12-18)
Former halfRelationLatter half
16 Love for wisdom (8:1-31)
8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; (8:13)
Fear of the LORD21 Fair lips (23:12-18)
23:17 be zealous for the fear of the LORD always; (23:17)
17 Listen to me (8:32-36)
8:36 But he who misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death.(8:36)
Soul (npsh)20 Table of kings (22:17-23:11)
22:25 Lest you learn his ways, and get yourself into a snare (22:25)
18 Table of wisdom (9:1-18)
9:9 Instruct a wise man, and he becomes still wiser; teach a just man, and he advances in learning. (9:9)
To give wisdom19 Solomon's proverbs (10:1-22:16)
Solomon's proverbs

3-3

21 Fair lips (23:12-18)
  22 Warning against alcohol (23:19-21)
    23 To respect parents (23:22-25)
      24 Sins of fool (23:26-24:12)
        25 Disaster of evildoer (24:13-20)
          26 Fear to God (24:21-22)
        27 Other words of wise man (24:23-34)
      28 Solomon's proverbs (25:1-29:27)
    29 Sayings of Agur (30:1-33)
  30 The teaching of king Lemel's mother (31:1-9)
31 Ode to a capable woman (31:10-31)
Former halfRelationLatter half
21 Fair lips (23:12-18)
23:18 For you will surely have a future, and your hope will not be cut off. (23:18)
Future31 Ode to a capable woman (31:10-31)
31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs at the days to come.(31:25)
22 Warning against alcohol (23:19-21)
23:20 Consort not with winebibbers, nor with those who eat meat to excess; (23:20)
Alcohols30 The teaching of king Lemel's mother (31:1-9)
31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine; strong drink is not for princes! (31:4)
23 To respect parents (23:22-25)
23:25 Let your father and mother have joy (23:25)
Parents29 Sayings of Agur (30:1-33)
30:11 There is a group of people that curses its father, and blesses not its mother (30:11)
24 Sins of fool (23:26-24:12)
24:10 If you remain indifferent in time of adversity, your strength will depart from you.(24:10)
In time of trouble28 Solomon's proverbs (25:1-29:27)
25:19 Like an infected tooth or an unsteady foot is (dependence on) a faithless man in time of trouble. (25:19)
25 Disaster of evildoer (24:13-20)
24:19 Be not provoked with evildoers, nor envious of the wicked; (24:19)
Attitudes against evildoers27 Other words of wise man (24:23-34)
24:25 But those who convict the evildoer will fare well, and on them will come the blessing of prosperity. (24:25)

3-3-1

21 Fair lips (23:12-18)
  22 Warning against alcohol (23:19-21)
    23 To respect parents (23:22-25)
    24 Sins of fool (23:26-24:12)
  25 Disaster of evildoer (24:13-20)
26 Fear to God (24:21-22)
Former halfRelationLatter half
21 Fair lips (23:12-18)
see 1-1-2
see 1-1-226 Fear to God (24:21-22)
see 1-1-2
22 Warning against alcohol (23:19-21)
see 1-1-2
see 1-1-225 Disaster of evildoer (24:13-20)
see 1-1-2
23 To respect parents (23:22-25)
see 1-1-2
see 1-1-224 Sins of fool (23:26-24:12)
see 1-1-2

3-3-2

26 Fear to God (24:21-22)
  27 Other words of wise man (24:23-34)
    28 Solomon's proverbs (25:1-29:27)
    29 Sayings of Agur (30:1-33)
  30 The teaching of king Lemel's mother (31:1-9)
31 Ode to a capable woman (31:10-31)
Former halfRelationLatter half
26 Fear to God (24:21-22)
24:21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; (24:21)
Fear of the LORD31 Ode to a capable woman (31:10-31)
31:30 the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.(31:30)
27 Other words of wise man (24:23-34)
24:23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.(24:23)
Jjudgment30 The teaching of king Lemel's mother (31:1-9)
31:9 Open your mouth, decree what is just, defend the needy and the poor! (31:9)
28 Solomon's proverbs (25:1-29:27)
Solomon's proverbs
Proverbs29 Sayings of Agur (30:1-33)
Sayings of Agur

Citations of the Bible are from New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible.

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Literary Structure of the Bible by Hajime Murai is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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