Chiastic Structures
The Old Testament
Chiastic Parallels
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A

5 O house of Jacob, come,
let us follow the light of Jehovah.

B

I

6 For you, O Jehovah, have forsaken your people,
the house of Jacob, because, like the Philistines,
they provide themselves with mystics from the East and are content with the infantile heathen.
7 Their land is full of silver and gold
and there is no end to their wealth; their land is full of horses
and there is no end to their chariots. 8 Their land is full of idols:
they adore the works of their hands, things their own fingers have made. 9 Mankind is brought low
when men thus debase themselves. Forbear them not!

II

10 Go into the rocks; hide in the dust

III

from the awesome presence of Jehovah and from the brightness of his glory.

C

11 The haughty eyes of men shall be lowered
and man’s pride abased; Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.

D

12 Jehovah of Hosts has a day in store
for all the proud and arrogant and for all who are exalted,
that they may be brought low.

D'

13 It shall come against all the lofty
cedars of Lebanon that lift themselves up high, and against all the oaks of Bashan, 14 against all high mountains and elevated hills,
15 against every tall tower and reinforced wall, 16 against [all vessels at sea,]
both merchant ships and pleasure craft.

C'

17 The haughtiness of men shall be abased,
and man’s pride brought low; Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.

B'

I'

18 He will utterly supplant the false gods.

II'

19 Men will go into caves in the rocks
and holes in the ground,

III'

from the awesome presence of Jehovah
and from the brightness of his glory, when he arises and strikes terror on earth.

I''

20 In that day men will throw away
to the moles and to the bats their idols of silver and gods of gold
which they have made for themselves to adore.

II''

21 Men will go into crevices in the rocks
and fissures in the cliffs,

III''

from the awesome presence of Jehovah
and from the brightness of his glory, when he arises and strikes terror on earth.

A'

22 Desist from the things of man,
in whose nostrils is but breath! For of what consideration is he?