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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Widsom

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of divided by 4


4-1

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)
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 call to the king5 Judgement against the kings (5:17-6:8)
6:1 Hear, therefore, kings, and understand; learn, you magistrates of the earth's expanse! (6:1)
2 The ungodly person (1:16-2:24)
1:16 It was the wicked who with hands and words invited death, considered it a friend, and pined for it, and made a covenant with it, Because they deserve to be in its possession,(1:16)
Death of the wicked / Immortality of the just4 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)

4-2

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
5 Judgement against the kings (5:17-6:8)
6:4 Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom, you judged not rightly, and did not keep the law, nor walk according to the will of God,(6:4)
Righteous judgement9 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)
6 Seek wisdom (6:9-25)
6:12 Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. (6:12)
Seeking for wisdom8 Love for wisdom (8:2-20)
8:2 Her I loved and sought after from my youth; I sought to take her for my bride and was enamored of her beauty. (8:2)

4-3

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
9 Solomon's prayer (8:21-9:18)
9:2 And in your wisdom have established man to rule the creatures produced by you, (9:2)
The creator13 Nature worship (13:1-9)
13:1 For all men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God, and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is, and from studying the works did not discern the artisan;(13:1)
10 The just man (10:1-14)
10:13 She did not abandon the just man when he was sold, but delivered him from sin.(10:13)
Salvation from a sin12 Conversion of the sinner (11:15-12:27)
12:2 Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little, warn them, and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD! (12:2)

4-4

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
13 Nature worship (13:1-9)
13:1 For all men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God, and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is, and from studying the works did not discern the artisan;(13:1)
The creator17 Punishment against the sinner (19:1-22)
19:6 For all creation, in its several kinds, was being made over anew, serving its natural laws, that your children might be preserved unharmed. (19:6)
14 Idolatry (13:10-15:17)
15:14 But all quite senseless, and worse than childish in mind, are the enemies of your people who enslaved them. (15:14)
Lives of infants16 Punishment against Egyptian (17:1-18:25)
18:5 When they determined to put to death the infants of the holy ones, and when a single boy had been cast forth but saved, As a reproof you carried off their multitude of sons and made them perish all at once in the mighty water.(18:5)

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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