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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Widsom

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of divided by 2


2-1

1 Love justice (1:1-15)
  2 The ungodly person (1:16-2:24)
    3 The righteous person (3:1-4:9)
      4 Judgement of the LORD (4:10-5:16)
        5 Judgement against the kings (5:17-6:8)
      6 Seek wisdom (6:9-25)
    7 Value of wisdom (7:1-30_8:1)
  8 Love for wisdom (8:2-20)
9 Solomon's prayer (8:21-9:18)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Love justice (1:1-15)
1:1 Love justice, you who judge the earth; think of the LORD in goodness, and seek him in integrity of heart;(1:1)
The governance of justice9 Solomon's prayer (8:21-9:18)
9:3 To govern the world in holiness and justice, and to render judgment in integrity of heart: (9:3)
2 The ungodly person (1:16-2:24)
2:24 But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who are in his possession experience it.(2:24)
Death / immortality8 Love for wisdom (8:2-20)
8:13 For her sake I should have immortality and leave to those after me an everlasting memory. (8:13)
3 The righteous person (3:1-4:9)
3:9 Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect. (3:9)
Love7 Value of wisdom (7:1-30_8:1)
7:28 For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom. (7:28)
4 Judgement of the LORD (4:10-5:16)
4:10 He who pleased God was loved; he who lived among sinners was transported--(4:10)
The LORD calls6 Seek wisdom (6:9-25)
6:20 thus the desire for Wisdom leads up to a kingdom. (6:20)

2-2

9 Solomon's prayer (8:21-9:18)
  10 The just man (10:1-14)
    11 Wisdom led the Israelites out of Egypt (10:15-11:14)
      12 Conversion of the sinner (11:15-12:27)
        13 Nature worship (13:1-9)
      14 Idolatry (13:10-15:17)
    15 The guidance in the wilderness (15:18-16:29)
  16 Punishment against Egyptian (17:1-18:25)
17 Punishment against the sinner (19:1-22)
Former halfRelationLatter half
9 Solomon's prayer (8:21-9:18)
9:11 For she knows and understands all things, and will guide me discreetly in my affairs and safeguard me by her glory; (9:11)
Glory17 Punishment against the sinner (19:1-22)
19:22 For every way, O LORD! you magnified and glorified your people; (19:22)
10 The just man (10:1-14)
10:6 She delivered the just man from among the wicked who were being destroyed, when he fled as fire descended upon Pentapolis--(10:6)
Salvation and destruction of the wicked16 Punishment against Egyptian (17:1-18:25)
18:8 For when you punished our adversaries, in this you glorified us whom you had summoned. (18:8)
11 Wisdom led the Israelites out of Egypt (10:15-11:14)
11:4 When they thirsted, they called upon you, and water was given them from the sheer rock, assuagement for their thirst from the hard stone. (11:4)
Giving food for the people15 The guidance in the wilderness (15:18-16:29)
16:2 Instead of this punishment, you benefited your people with a novel dish, the delight they craved, by providing quail for their food; (16:2)
12 Conversion of the sinner (11:15-12:27)
11:15 And in return for their senseless, wicked thoughts, which misled them into worshiping dumb serpents and worthless insects, You sent upon them swarms of dumb creatures for vengeance;(11:15)
Idolatry14 Idolatry (13:10-15:17)
13:10 But doomed are they, and in dead things are their hopes, who termed gods things made by human hands: Gold and silver, the product of art, and likenesses of beasts, or useless stone, the work of an ancient hand. (13:10)

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.
Caution: The copyright of the cited Bible verses belongs to each translator and publisher.

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