This page can be edited just like Wikipedia. Click Edit at the top of the page and use the same formatting as Wikipedia. Click here for formatting help.

To make citations, include citation information between ref tags, like this:

<ref>Wendland, Ernst. Expository Outlines on the Psalms</ref>

Hebrew (BHS)[ ]

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ אֶֽל־הַנְּחִיל֗וֹת מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ אֲמָרַ֖י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה׀ יְהוָ֗ה בִּ֣ינָה הֲגִֽיגִי׃ הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה׀ לְק֬וֹל שַׁוְעִ֗י מַלְכִּ֥י וֵאלֹהָ֑י כִּֽי־אֵ֜לֶ֗יךָ אֶתְפַּלָּֽל׃ יְֽהוָ֗ה בֹּ֭קֶר תִּשְׁמַ֣ע קוֹלִ֑י בֹּ֥קֶר אֶֽעֱרָךְ־לְ֜ךָ֗ וַאֲצַפֶּֽה׃ כִּ֤י׀ לֹ֤א אֵֽל־חָפֵ֨ץ רֶ֥שַׁע׀ אָ֑תָּה לֹ֖א יְגֻרְךָ֣ רָֽע׃ לֹֽא־יִתְיַצְּב֣וּ הֽ֭וֹלְלִים לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינֶ֑יךָ שָׂ֜נֵ֗אתָ כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃ תְּאַבֵּד֘ דֹּבְרֵ֪י כָ֫זָ֥ב אִישׁ־דָּמִ֥ים וּמִרְמָ֗ה יְתָ֨עֵ֥ב׀ יְהוָֽה׃ וַאֲנִ֗י בְּרֹ֣ב חַ֭סְדְּךָ אָב֣וֹא בֵיתֶ֑ךָ אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה אֶל־הֵֽיכַל־קָ֜דְשְׁךָ֗ בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ׃ יְהוָ֤ה׀ נְחֵ֬נִי בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ לְמַ֥עַן שׁוֹרְרָ֑י (הוֹשַׁר) [הַיְשַׁ֖ר] לְפָנַ֣י דַּרְכֶּֽךָ׃ כִּ֤י אֵ֪ין בְּפִ֡יהוּ נְכוֹנָה֘ קִרְבָּ֪ם הַ֫וּ֥וֹת קֶֽבֶר־פָּת֥וּחַ גְּרוֹנָ֑ם לְ֜שׁוֹנָ֗ם יַחֲלִֽיקוּן׃ הַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֙ם׀ אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים יִפְּלוּ֘ מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם בְּרֹ֣ב פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ כִּי־מָ֥רוּ בָֽךְ׃ וְיִשְׂמְח֙וּ כָל־ח֪וֹסֵי בָ֡ךְ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ וְתָסֵ֣ךְ עָלֵ֑ימוֹ וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ בְ֜ךָ֗ אֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁמֶֽךָ׃ כִּֽי־אַתָּה֘ תְּבָרֵ֪ךְ צַ֫דִּ֥יק יְהוָ֑ה כַּ֜צִּנָּ֗ה רָצ֥וֹן תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ׃

Greek (Rahlfs-Hanhart LXX)

εἰς τὸ τέλος ὑπὲρ τῆς κληρονομούσης ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυιδ τὰ ῥήματά μου ἐνώτισαι κύριε σύνες τῆς κραυγῆς μου πρόσχες τῇ φωνῇ τῆς δεήσεώς μου ὁ βασιλεύς μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου ὅτι πρὸς σὲ προσεύξομαι κύριε τὸ πρωὶ εἰσακούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς μου τὸ πρωὶ παραστήσομαί σοι καὶ ἐπόψομαι ὅτι οὐχὶ θεὸς θέλων ἀνομίαν σὺ εἶ οὐδὲ παροικήσει σοι πονηρευόμενος οὐ διαμενοῦσιν παράνομοι κατέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν σου ἐμίσησας πάντας τοὺς ἐργαζομένους τὴν ἀνομίαν ἀπολεῖς πάντας τοὺς λαλοῦντας τὸ ψεῦδος ἄνδρα αἱμάτων καὶ δόλιον βδελύσσεται κύριος ἐγὼ δὲ ἐν τῷ πλήθει τοῦ ἐλέους σου εἰσελεύσομαι εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου προσκυνήσω πρὸς ναὸν ἅγιόν σου ἐν φόβῳ σου κύριε ὁδήγησόν με ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ σου ἕνεκα τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου κατεύθυνον ἐνώπιόν μου τὴν ὁδόν σου ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν ἀλήθεια ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν ματαία τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν κρῖνον αὐτούς ὁ θεός ἀποπεσάτωσαν ἀπὸ τῶν διαβουλίων αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἀσεβειῶν αὐτῶν ἔξωσον αὐτούς ὅτι παρεπίκρανάν σε κύριε καὶ εὐφρανθήτωσαν πάντες οἱ ἐλπίζοντες ἐπὶ σέ εἰς αἰῶνα ἀγαλλιάσονται καὶ κατασκηνώσεις ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ καυχήσονται ἐν σοὶ πάντες οἱ ἀγαπῶντες τὸ ὄνομά σου ὅτι σὺ εὐλογήσεις δίκαιον κύριε ὡς ὅπλῳ εὐδοκίας ἐστεφάνωσας ἡμᾶς

Phonology[ ]

Vowels

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
u-vowels		vv.10-12			gives cohesion to section 3 (vv.10-12)
ay-diphthong	אֲמָרַ֖י (v.2a), וֵאלֹהָ֑י (v.3a), שׁוֹרְרָ֑י (v.9a), לְפָנַ֣י (v.9b)		beginning of sections 1 (vv.2a, 3a) and section 3 (v.9ab)	parallelism (v.9ab)	gives cohesion to vv.2-3 and v.9ab; on a macrostructural level, may mark aperture (v.2a, v.9a)
o-vowels		v.4ab; line-initial o-vowels (vv.4a-6a)	beginning of section 2		gives cohesion to vv.4-6
i-vowels		vv.2-3; v.11	section 1		gives cohesion to section 1 (vv.2-3), and to v.11

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Consonants

Definition Feature being studied	Clustering	Connections	Structure
Sibilants (שׁ שׂ ס ז צ/ץ)	שׁ: v.3a; צ: v.13ab
Dentals (ת ד ט)	v.7a, 13a; infrequent in vv.10-12
Velars (כ/ך ק ג)	vv.2b-3b, v.4ab, v.8b; line-initial velar (כּ/ק): v.10abc; final ך: vv.8-9, vv.11d-12d
Sonorants (ל ר מ נ)	v.6(11x), v.12bc(8x)	parallelism (vv.6ab, 12bc)
Liquids (ל ר)	vv.3-6; ל: v.3(7x), v.6(6x)
Labials (ב פ/ף)	ב: v.7a, v.8a		gives cohesion to vv.7-8
Nasals (מ/ם נ/ן)	מ: v.7b, v.11(9x); נ: v.10a, v.13b	parallelism (v.11abcd)	gives cohesion to v.11

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Sound combinations

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Connections	Structure
צ + נ		v.13b (כַּ֜צִּנָּ֗ה רָצ֥וֹן)
בֹּ֭קֶר: labial (ב/פ) +/- velar (ק כ/ך ג) +/- liquid (ר ל)	לְק֬וֹל (v.3a), מַלְכִּ֥י (v.3a), אֵ֜לֶ֗יךָ (v.3b), בֹּ֭קֶר (v.4ab, x2), קוֹלִ֑י (v.4a), אֶֽעֱרָךְ־לְ֜ךָ֗ (v.4b), יְגֻרְךָ֣ (v.5b), כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי (v.6b), בְּרֹ֣ב (v.8a), הֵֽיכַל (v.8b), לְפָנַ֣י דַּרְכֶּֽךָ (v.9b), קִרְבָּ֪ם (v.10b), קֶֽבֶר (v.10c), גְּרוֹנָ֑ם (v.10c), יַחֲלִֽיקוּן (v.10d), יִפְּלוּ֘ (v.11b), בְּרֹ֣ב (v.11c), כִּי־מָ֥רוּ בָֽךְ (v.11d), כָל (v.12a), בָ֡ךְ (v.12a), בְ֜ךָ֗ (v.12d), תְּבָרֵ֪ךְ (v.13a)	v.4ab, v.10bc		A significant proportion of the phonological recursion in Ps. 5 (e.g., בְּרֹב, בָךְ, קֶבֶר/קִרְבָּם, קוֹל) happens to include sounds related to בֹּקֶר (v.4ab). This feature highlights the thematic significance of בֹּקֶר, which is emphatically repeated in fronted position in v.4ab. It also gives cohesion to the psalm as a whole.
dental (ת/ד) + labial (ב)		v.7ab	parallelism (v.7ab)	gives cohesion to v.7ab
שׁ + ר	v.9ab		parallelism (v.9ab)	gives cohesion to vv.9ab

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Similar sounds in adjacent lines

Section 1 (vv.2-3)

assonance (ē): הַאֲזִ֥ינָה (v.2a), בִּ֣ינָה הֲגִֽיגִי (v.2b), הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה (v.3a), שַׁוְעִ֗י מַלְכִּ֥י (v.3a)
rhyme: ay-diphthong (v.2a אֲמָרַ֖י, v.3a, וֵאלֹהָ֑י)
rhyme: הַאֲזִ֥ינָה (v.2a), בִּ֣ינָה (v.2b); also הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה (v.3a)
alliteration of gutturals: הֲגִֽיגִי (v.2b), הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה׀ לְק֬וֹל (v.3a), מַלְכִּ֥י (v.3a), כִּֽי־אֵ֜לֶ֗יךָ (v.3b)
alliteration of ל (v.3ab [7x])
alliteration of שׁ (v.3a)
repetition of כִּי (v.3a: מַלְכִּ֥י, v.3b: כִּֽי)

Section 2.1 (v.4)

repetition of בֹּקֶר (v.4ab)
alliteration of velar + liquid: בֹּ֭קֶר (v.4ab), קוֹלִ֑י (v.4a), אֶֽעֱרָךְ־לְ֜ךָ֗ (v.4b)
alliteration of labials (first and final consonant of v.4): בֹּ֭קֶר (v.4ab), וַאֲצַפֶּֽה׃ (v.4b)

Section 2.2 (vv.5-7)

repetition of line-initial לֹא (vv.5ab, 6a); long ō: cf. בֹּ֭קֶר (v.4ab)
consecutive stressed syllables at the end of the line: רֶ֥שַׁע׀ אָ֑תָּה (v.5a [רֶ֥שַׁע as monosyllabic]), יְגֻרְךָ֣ רָֽע (v.5b)
repetition of final ךָ (v.5b: ְגֻרְךָ֣, v.6a: עֵינֶ֑יךָ)
assonance (e-vowels): לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינֶ֑יךָ (v.6a), שָׂ֜נֵ֗אתָ (v.6b)
alliteration of lamed: לֹֽא...הֽ֭וֹלְלִים לְנֶ֣גֶד (v.6a), כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי (v.6b)
alliteration of dentals (d, t) and labials (b, m): תְּאַבֵּד֘ דֹּבְרֵ֪י כָ֫זָ֥ב (v.7a), דָּמִ֥ים וּמִרְמָ֗ה יְתָ֨עֵ֥ב... (v.7b)

Section 2.3 (v.8)

end-ryhme: בֵיתֶ֑ךָ (v.8a), בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ׃ (v.8b); both final words also begin with בּ
repetition of consonantal sounds (sibilant + dental + velar/guttural) and final ךָ (v.8a: חַ֭סְדְּךָ, v.8b: קָ֜דְשְׁךָ֗)

Section 3.1 (v.9)

words ending in ékā: בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ (v.9a), דַּרְכֶּֽךָ (v.9b); cf. בֵיתֶ֑ךָ (v.8a) and בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ׃ (v.8b) in the previous section
alliteration of שׁ + ר (v.9a: שׁוֹרְרָ֑י, v.9b: הושַׁ֖ר)
words ending in ay-diphthong: שׁוֹרְרָ֑י (v.9a), לְפָנַ֣י (v.9b)
assonance (ō) acc. to Qere reading: שׁוֹרְרָ֑י (v.9a), הוֹשַׁ֖ר (v.9b)

Section 3.2 (vv.10-11)

alliteration of n: אֵ֪ין בְּפִ֡יהוּ נְכוֹנָה֘ (v.10a)
sound play: קִרְבָּ֪ם (v.10b), קֶֽבֶר (v.10c); cf. בֹּ֭קֶר (v.4ab) which has the same three letters
line-initial velars (כּ/ק): v.10abc
recursion of guttural + dental + u-class vowel: הַ֫וּ֥וֹת (v.10b), פָּת֥וּחַ (v.10c)
alliteration of liquid + velar: קִרְבָּ֪ם (v.10b), קֶֽבֶר (v.10c), גְּרוֹנָ֑ם (v.10c), יַחֲלִֽיקוּן (v.10d)
rhyme: גְּרוֹנָ֑ם (v.10c), לְ֜שׁוֹנָ֗ם (v.10d)
alliteration of m: הַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֙ם׀ אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים (v.11a), מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם (v.11b), פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ (v.11c), מָ֥רוּ (v.11d)
words ending in יהֶם (v.11b: מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם, v.11c: פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם)

Section 3.3 (v.12)

repetition of בָךְ/בְךָ (v.12ad); cf. v.11d in previous section
similar sounds in v.12a (ְוְיִשְׂמְח֙וּ כָל־ח֪וֹסֵי) and v.12d (וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ בְ֜ךָ֗ אֹהֲבֵ֥י)
similar sounds in v.12b (לְעוֹלָ֣ם) and v.12c (עָלֵ֑ימוֹ)
ékā ending (שְׁמֶֽךָ); cf. v.9ab (phonological inclusio)

Section 4 (v.13)

alliteration of k: כִּי (v.13a), ַּ֜כַּצִּנָּ֗ה (v.13b)
alliteration of dentals: אַתָּה֘ תְּבָרֵ֪ךְ צַ֫דִּ֥יק (v.13a), תַּעְטְרֶֽנּו (v.13b)
alliteration of צ (v.13a: צַ֫דִּ֥יק, v.13b: כַּ֜צִּנָּ֗ה רָצ֥וֹן)
alliteration of n: כַּ֜צִּנָּ֗ה רָצ֥וֹן תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ (v.13b),

Other observations

Miscellaneous

The first word of the psalm begins with א (alliterated in v.2a) and the last word begins with ת (alliterated in v.13ab), thus forming a phonological inclusion (cf. Psalm 1). This feature may partly explain the defamiliarized word order in v.2a (O - V - voc).

Rhythm and Line Length
The following table shows the length of each line in terms of syllables, words, and stress units.

Ref	Syllables	Words	Stress Units
2a	8	3	3
2b	5	2	2
3a	12	5	5
3b	7	3	2
4a	7	4	4
4b	9	4	3
5a	8	6	4
5b	5	3	3
6a	13	5	4
6b	8	4	3
7a	8	3	3
7b	11	5	4
8a	13	5	5
8b	14	5	3
9a	15	5	5
9b	8	3	3
10a	8	3	3
10b	4	2	2
10c	6	3	2
10d	6	2	2
11a	6	2	2
11b	9	2	2
11c	9	3	3
11d	4	3	2
12a	8	4	3
12b	7	2	2
12c	6	2	2
12d	12	4	4
13a	10	5	4
13b	9	3	3

There is little discernible regularity in the length of lines, which range from 4-15 syllables and 2-5 stress units.
If vv.10-12 are considered tetracola, then in nearly all of the bicola (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13), the b-line is slightly shorter than the a-line in terms of stress units. The only exception is v.7ab, (a point of discontinuity) in which the reverse is true.
Lines in the second half of the psalm (esp. vv.10-12) are, on average, shorter than those in the first half.
The three longest lines occur near/at the middle of the psalm, their lengths gradually increasing (v.7b: 11 syllables --> v.8a: 13 syllables --> v.8b: 14 syllables) and peaking at v.9a (15 syllables), the middle line of the psalm. These long lines cluster around a major sectional boundary (8b/9a).

Lexical Semantics[ ]

References to God

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
אל/אלהים	אֱלֹהַי (v.3a), אֵל (v.5a), אֱלֹהִים (v.11a)		near beginning of psalm (v.3a); beginning of sub-section 2.2 (v.5a)
יהוה	vv.2a, 4a, 7b, 9a, 13b; acc. to LXX also v.11b		beginning of psalm (v.2a); first word of sections 2 (v.4a) and 3 (v.9a); last word of section 2.2 (v.7b) and, acc. to LXX, section 3.2 (v.11b)		The recursion of the divine name יהוה as a vocative at the beginning of a line (vv. 4a, 9a) marks the onset of the two major sections in the body of the psalm (S.1: vv.4-8; S.2: vv.9-12). If the divine name occurs also at the end of v.11d (so LXX), then it functions in this verse as well as in v.7b to close the parallel sub-sections 2.3 and 3.3.

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Tetragrammaton

The tetragrammaton, used in direct address at the beginning of lines, functions to demarcate the major sections of the psalm (vv.4a, 9a).,

Repeated words

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
צדק	בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ (v.9a), צַ֫דִּ֥יק (v.13a)			The psalmist prays to be guided in Yahweh's righteousness (v.9a), because it is the righteous whom Yahweh blesses (v.13a)
כל	כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן (v.6a), כָל־ח֪וֹסֵי בָ֡ךְ (v.12a); acc. to LXX also in v.7a (כל דברי כזב) and v.12d (כל אהבי שׁמך)			The repetition of כל + bound-phrase may be intended to highlight the contrast between the wicked (v.6a; LXX: v.7a) and the righteous (v.12a; LXX: v.12d).
בְּרֹב	בְּרֹ֣ב חַ֭סְדְּךָ (v.8a), בְּרֹ֣ב פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם (v.11c)			The repetition of בְּרֹב underscores the contrast between God's character and that of the wicked described in this psalm.
קוֹל	קוֹל שַׁוְעִי (v.3a), קוֹלִי (v.4a)	vv.3-4
בֹּקֶר	בֹּקֶר (v.4a), בֹּקֶר (v.4b)	v.4ab(2x)	beginning of section 2		בֹּקֶר is repeated twice in fronted position for emphasis (cf. Ps. 1:2).

2a	יהוה
2b
3a		קוֹל	אֱלֹהַי
3b
4a	יהוה	קוֹלִי		בֹּקֶר
4b				בֹּקֶר
5a			אֵל
5b
6a
6b					כָּל
7a
7b	יהוה
8a						בְּרֹב
8b
9a	יהוה						בצדקתך
9b
10a
10b
10c
10d
11a			אֱלֹהִים
11b
11c						בְּרֹב
11d
12a					כָל
12b
12c
12d
13a							צדיק
13b	יהוה

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Semantically/thematically related words

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
dwelling	יְגֻרְךָ֣ (act of dwelling/sojourning, v.5b), בֵיתֶ֑ךָ (place of dwelling, v.8a), הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ (banishment from dwelling place, v.11a)
protection	כָל־ח֪וֹסֵי בָ֡ךְ (v.12a), וְתָסֵ֣ךְ עָלֵ֑ימוֹ (v.12c), כַּ֜צִּנָּ֗ה רָצ֥וֹן תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ (v.13b)	vv.12-13
emotion/desire	חָפֵ֨ץ (v.5a), שָׂ֜נֵ֗אתָ (v.6b), יְתָ֨עֵ֥ב (v.7b), וְיִשְׂמְח֙וּ (v.12a), וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ (v.12d), אֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁמֶֽךָ (v.12d), רָצ֥וֹן (v.13b)				gives cohesion to the psalm; Yahweh "hates/abominates/does not delight in" (vv.5-7) the wicked; but he surrounds with "favor" those who "love" his name (vv.12-13)
words associated with righteousness	בְּרֹ֣ב חַ֭סְדְּךָ (v.8a), הֵֽיכַל־קָ֜דְשְׁךָ֗ (v.8b), בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ (v.8b), בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ (v.9a), דַּרְכֶּֽךָ (v.9b), כָל־ח֪וֹסֵי בָ֡ךְ (v.12a), אֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁמֶֽךָ (v.12d), צַ֫דִּ֥יק (v.13a)	vv.8-9, 12-13		forms connections between parallel lines (v.8ab, v.9ab, v.12ad); forms connection between the structurally parallel sections 2.3 (v.8) and 3.3 (v.12).	gives cohesion to vv.8-9, 12-13; strengthens disjunctive parallel between section 2.3 (v.8) and 3.3 (v.12).
words associated with wickedness	רֶ֥שַׁע (v.5a), רָֽע (v.5b), הֽ֭וֹלְלִים (v.6a), כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן (v.6b), דֹּבְרֵ֪י כָ֫זָ֥ב (v.7a), אִישׁ־דָּמִ֥ים וּמִרְמָ֗ה (v.7b), שׁוֹרְרָ֑י (v.9b) הַ֫וּ֥וֹת (v.10b), קֶֽבֶר־פָּת֥וּחַ (v.10c), יַחֲלִֽיקוּן (v.10d), מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם (v.11b), בְּרֹ֣ב פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם (v.11c), מָ֥רוּ (v.11d)	section 2.2 (vv.5-7); section 3.2 (vv.10-11)	begins and ends section 2.2 (vv.5-7) and section 3.2 (vv.10-11)	forms connections between parallel lines (v.5ab, v.6ab, v.7ab, v.10, v.11); forms connection between the structurally parallel sections 2.2 and 3.2.	gives cohesion to vv.5-7 and vv.10-11; suggests structural connection between these two parallel sections; the language of wickedness in vv.5-7 is repeated in much more creative and figurative ways in vv.10-11
body-parts	הַאֲזִ֥ינָה (v.2a), עֵינֶ֑יךָ (v.6a), לְפָנַ֣י (v.9b), בְּפִ֡יהוּ (v.10a), קִרְבָּ֪ם (v.10b), גְּרוֹנָ֑ם (v.10c), לְ֜שׁוֹנָ֗ם (v.10d)	v.10abcd			gives cohesion to v.10

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Rare words

הוֹלֹלִים – The qal participle of הלל occurs only in the Psalms (Pss. 5:6; 73:3; 75:5). In Ps. 5:6 it is parallel to the phrase פעלי און, and in Pss. 73:3 and 75:5 it is parallel to the common term רשׁעים. Each time the LXX translates it as παράνομος/παραναμῶν/ἄνομος/ ("lawless person"), which is used to translate a number of other words (e.g., פָּשָׁע, בְּלִיַּעַל, זֵד). Holladay says that הוֹלֹלִים refers to someone who is "deluded," while BDB has "boastful ones, boasters." In Psalm 75 (vv.5-11), the הוללים are wicked people who boast (הלל) and exalt themselves. The same appears to be the case in Ps. 5, where the הוללים attempt to station themselves before Yahweh's eyes (i.e., attain to a position of royal power [cf. Ps. 41:13]).
שׁוֹרְרַי – This noun occurs only in the Psalms (Pss. 5:9; 27:11; 54:7; 56:3; 59:11). The meaning is difficult to determine based on usage alone. What is clear is that the term, like הוללים (above) is part of the semantic domain of "enemies" (אֹיְבִים). These enemies are described disparagingly in v.10. שׁוֹרר is translated consistently in the LXX by the general term ἐχθρός, in the Vulgate by insidiator ("someone who lies in wait"), and in the Targum by מעיק ("oppressor"). In Ps. 5:9, Aquila has ἐφοδεύω (ptc) + dative ("watch over", so BDB) and Theodotion has, similar to Targum, ἀποθλιβω ("oppress, afflict").

Verbs[ ]

Verb forms

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
qatal	שָׂ֜נֵ֗אתָ (v.6b), מָ֥רוּ (v.11d)
participle	הֽ֭וֹלְלִים (v.6a), פֹּ֥עֲלֵי (v.6b), דֹּבְרֵ֪י (v.7a), פָּת֥וּחַ (v.10c), ח֪וֹסֵי (v.12a), אֹהֲבֵ֥י (v.12d)	vv.6-7; v.12		participles in vv.6-7 (referring to the wicked) contrasted with those in v.12 (referring to the righteous); forms disjunctive parallel within tetracolon (v.12)	gives cohesion to section 2.2 (vv.5-7) and 3.3 (v.12)
weyiqtol	וַאֲצַפֶּֽה (v.4b), וְיִשְׂמְח֙וּ (v.12a), וְתָסֵ֣ךְ (v.12c), וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ (v.12d)	v.12(3x)	first and last verb of section 3.3 (v.12)	forms disjunctive parallel within tetracolon (v.12ad)	gives cohesion to section 3.3 (forms tetracolon)
yiqtol	אֶתְפַּלָּֽל (v.3b), תִּשְׁמַ֣ע (v.4a), אֶֽעֱרָךְ (v.4b), יְגֻרְךָ֣ (v.5b), יִתְיַצְּב֣וּ (v.6a), תְּאַבֵּד֘ (v.7a), יְתָ֨עֵ֥ב (v.7b), אָב֣וֹא (v.8a), אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה (v.8b), יַחֲלִֽיקוּן (v.10d), יִפְּלוּ֘ (v.11b), יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ (v.12b), תְּבָרֵ֪ךְ (v.13a), תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ (v.13b)	vv.4-8; v.13	last verb of section 1 (vv.2-3); first and last verb of section 2 (vv.4-8); end of psalm (v.13ab)		gives cohesion to section 2 (vv.4-8)
deontic modality	הַאֲזִ֥ינָה (v.2a), בִּ֣ינָה (v.2b), הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה (v.3a), נְחֵ֬נִי (v.9a), הַושַׁ֖ר (v.9b), הַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֙ם (v.11a), יִפְּלוּ֘ (v.11b), הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ (v.11c), וְיִשְׂמְח֙וּ (v.12a), יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ (v.12b?), וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ (v.12d?)	vv.2-3a; v.9ab; vv.11-12	esp. section 3 (vv.9-12)		gives cohesion to sections 1 (vv.2-3) and 3 (vv.9-12); anaphora (v.2a; v.9a)
imperative	הַאֲזִ֥ינָה (v.2a), בִּ֣ינָה (v.2b), הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה (v.3a), נְחֵ֬נִי (v.9a), הַושַׁ֖ר (v.9b), הַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֙ם (v.11a), הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ (v.11c)	vv.2-3a; v.9ab; v.11ac	only in section 1 (vv.2-3) and section 3 (vv.9-12); marks the beginning of each of these sections		gives cohesion to sections 1 (vv.2-3) and 3 (vv.9-12); anaphora (v.2a; v.9a)

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Person, gender and number

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
1cs		vv.3-4, v.8; absent in the second half of the psalm (vv.9-13)	beginning and ending of section 2 (vv.4-8)		gives cohesion to section 2 (vv.4-8)
2ms		vv.2-3a, v.9, v.13	beginning of psalm (vv.2-3a); beginning of section 2 (v.4a); beginning of section 3 (v.9); end of psalm (v.13)		each major section of the psalm opens with 2ms verbs (anaphora); the psalm is framed by 2ms verbs (inclusio)

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Paragogic letters

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
paragogic nun	יַחֲלִֽיקוּן (v.10d)		closes tetracolon (v.10abcd)
paragogic he	הַאֲזִ֥ינָה (v.2a), בִּ֣ינָה (v.2b), הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה (v.3a)	vv.2-3	beginning of psalm (invocation)	forms parallelism (v.2ab)	opens the psalm, gives cohesion to section 1 (vv.2-3)

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Verb stem types (binyanim)

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
Qal passive	פָּת֥וּחַ (v.10c)
Hishtaphel	אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה (v.8b)
Hithpael	אֶתְפַּלָּֽל (v.3b), יִתְיַצְּב֣וּ (v.6a)
Hiphil	הַאֲזִ֥ינָה (v.2a), הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה (v.3a), הַושַׁ֖ר (v.9b), יַחֲלִֽיקוּן (v.10d), הַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֙ם (v.11a), הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ (v.11c), וְתָסֵ֣ךְ (v.12c)	section 1 (vv.2-3); section 3 (vv.9-12); absent sections 2 (vv.5-8) and 4 (v.13)	opens psalm (v.2a)	disjunctive parallel within tetracolon (v.11ac)	gives cohesion to section 1 (vv.2-3) and section 3 (vv.9-12), and, by its absence, to sections 2 (vv.5-8) and 4 (v.13)
Piel	שַׁוְעִ֗י (v.3a), וַאֲצַפֶּֽה (v.4b), תְּאַבֵּד֘ (v.7a), יְתָ֨עֵ֥ב (v.7b), יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ (v.12b), תְּבָרֵ֪ךְ (v.13a), תעטרנו (v.13b? [see discussion below])	v.7ab, v.13ab?	closes section 3.2 (vv.5-7); closes psalm (vv.13ab?)	parallel lines (v.7ab, v.13ab?); parallel 2ms Piel yiqtol verbs may form a connection between v.7 (what Yahweh does to the wicked) and v.13 (what Yahweh does to the righteous)	epiphora (v.7, v.13?)
Qal	בִּ֣ינָה (v.2b), תִּשְׁמַ֣ע (v.4a), אֶֽעֱרָךְ (v.4b), יְגֻרְךָ֣ (v.5b), הֽ֭וֹלְלִים (v.6a), שָׂ֜נֵ֗אתָ (v.6b), פֹּ֥עֲלֵי (v.6b), דֹּבְרֵ֪י (v.7a), אָב֣וֹא (v.8a), נְחֵ֬נִי (v.9a), יִפְּלוּ֘ (v.11b), מָ֥רוּ (v.11d), וְיִשְׂמְח֙וּ (v.12a), ח֪וֹסֵי (v.12a), וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ (v.12d), אֹהֲבֵ֥י (v.12d), תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ (v.13b)

Verb stem types are more varied in Psalm 5 than in any previous psalm. There are numerous Hiphil (7) and Piel (6 or 7) verbs as well as Hithpael (2), Hishtaphel (1), and Qal Passive (1). In fact, according to the MT, there are as many Qal forms (17) as non-Qal forms (17).

See below on variants for a discussion of the stem of תעטרנו in v.13b.

**Verb Morphology**
Verse	Verb	Stem	Conjugation	Person	Gender	Number	Paragogic Suffix	Pronominal Suffix	Root
2a	הַאֲזִ֥ינָה	H	impv	2	m	s	ה		אזן
2b	בִּ֣ינָה	Q	impv	2	m	s	ה		בין
3a	הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה	H	impv	2	m	s	ה		קשׁב
	שַׁוְעִ֗י	D	inf cstr					1cs	שׁוע
3b	אֶתְפַּלָּֽל	HtD	yiqtol	1	c	s			פלל
4a	תִּשְׁמַ֣ע	Q	yiqtol	2	m	s			שׁמע
4b	אֶֽעֱרָךְ	Q	yiqtol	1	c	s			ערך
	וַאֲצַפֶּֽה	D	weyiqtol	1	c	s			צפה
5b	יְגֻרְךָ֣	Q	yiqtol	3	m	s		2ms	גור
6a	יִתְיַצְּב֣וּ	HtD	yiqtol	3	m	p			יצב
	הֽ֭וֹלְלִים	Q	ptc		m	p			הלל
6b	שָׂ֜נֵ֗אתָ	Q	qatal	2	m	s			שׂנא
	פֹּ֥עֲלֵי	Q	ptc		m	p			פעל
7a	תְּאַבֵּד֘	D	yiqtol	2	m	s			אבד
	דֹּבְרֵ֪י	Q	ptc		m	p			דבר
7b	יְתָ֨עֵ֥ב	D	yiqtol	3	m	s			תעב
8a	אָב֣וֹא	Q	yiqtol	1	c	s			בוא
8b	אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה	Hsht	yiqtol	1	c	s			חוה
9a	נְחֵ֬נִי	Q	impv	2	m	s		1cs	נחה
9b	הַושַׁ֖ר	H	impv	2	m	s			ישׁר
10c	פָּת֥וּחַ	Qp	ptc		m	s			פתח
10d	יַחֲלִֽיקוּן	H	yiqtol	3	m	p	ן		חלק
11a	ַֽהַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֙ם	H	impv	2	m	s		3mp	אשׁם
11b	יִפְּלוּ֘	Q	yiqtol	3	m	p			נפל
11c	הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ	H	impv	2	m	s		3mp (מוֹ)	נדח
11d	מָ֥רוּ	Q	qatal	3	c	p			מרה
12a	וְיִשְׂמְח֙וּ	Q	weyiqtol	3	m	p			שׂמח
	ח֪וֹסֵי	Q	ptc		m	p			חוס
12b	יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ	D	yiqtol	3	m	p			רנן
12c	וְתָסֵ֣ךְ	H	weyiqtol	2	m	s			סכך
12d	וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ	Q	weyiqtol	3	m	p			עלץ
	אֹהֲבֵ֥י	Q	ptc		m	p			אהב
13a	תְּבָרֵ֪ךְ	D	yiqtol	2	m	s			ברך
13b	תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ	Q	yiqtol	2	m	s		3ms (נּ)	עטר

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Other

Verbless Clauses

v.5a
10a
10b
10c

The negated verbless clauses in v.5 and v.10 are parallel in the macrostructure of the psalm. Within the two parallel sections that constitute the body of the psalm (section 2: vv.4-8; section 3: vv.9-12), v.5a opens section 2.2, and v.10a opens section 3.2.

Nouns[ ]

Number

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
plural	אֲמָרַ֖י (v.2a), וֵאלֹהָ֑י (v.3a), עֵינֶ֑יךָ (v.6a), דָּמִ֥ים (v.7b), שׁוֹרְרָ֑י (v.9a), לְפָנַ֣י (v.9b), הַ֫וּ֥וֹת (v.10b), אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים (v.11a), מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם (v.11b), פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם (v.11c)

v.10b

הַוּוֹת – It is not uncommon for abstract nouns to be expressed in plural form.^[1] The use of the plural here has an architectonic function: "The variation 'singular in A-colon plus plural in B-colon' governs the five verses of 10-11 and 12cd."^[2],

Gender

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
feminine	עֵינֶ֑יךָ (v.6a), וּמִרְמָ֗ה (v.7b), בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ (v.8b), בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ (v.9a), נְכוֹנָה֘ (v.10a), הַ֫וּ֥וֹת (v.10b), מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם (v.11b), כַּ֜צִּנָּ֗ה (v.13b)		end of section 2 (v.8b); beginning of section 3 (v.9a); end of psalm (v.13b)

Most of the feminine nouns in this psalm are abstract nouns (מרמה, צדקה, יראה, נכונה, מעצה, הוה).^[3],

Definiteness

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Connections	Structure
definiteness due to pronominal suffix		vv.8-9; every noun in these middle lines is definite, forming the largest cluster of definite nouns in the psalm.	cluster in middle of psalm (vv.8-9), at major break (8b/9a)
definite article	כַּ֜צִּנָּ֗ה		end of psalm (cf. Ps. 3:9)

v.13b

The article in כַּ֜צִּנָּ֗ה (v.13b) is used for generic reference. This use of the article is common in similes.^[4],

Pronominal suffixes

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection	Structure
3mp	בפיהם (v.10a? [see below]), קִרְבָּ֪ם (v.10b), גְּרוֹנָ֑ם (v.10c), לְ֜שׁוֹנָ֗ם (v.10d), מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם (v.11b), פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם (v.11c)	vv.10-11		gives cohesion to vv.10-11
2ms	עֵינֶ֑יךָ (v.6a), חַ֭סְדְּךָ (v.8a), בֵיתֶ֑ךָ (v.8a), קָ֜דְשְׁךָ֗ (v.8b), בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ (v.8b), בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ (v.9a), דַּרְכֶּֽךָ (v.9b), שְׁמֶֽךָ (v.12d)	vv.8-9	middle of psalm	gives cohesion to vv.8-9; may mark the peak of the psalm, which focuses on Yahweh's ("your", 2ms) loyal love, reverence, house, holiness, righteousness, and pathway.
1cs	אֲמָרַ֖י (v.2a), הֲגִֽיגִי (v.2b), שַׁוּעִי (v.3a), מַלְכִּ֥י (v.3a), וֵאלֹהָ֑י (v.3a), קוֹלִ֑י (v.4a), שׁוֹרְרָ֑י (v.9a), לְפָנַ֣י (v.9b),	section 1 (invocation, vv.2-3)	beginning of psalm (vv.2-3); middle of psalm (v.9ab)	gives cohesion to section 1 (v.2-3)

v.10a

The only noun in the MT with a 3ms suffix is בְּפִ֡יהוּ (v.10a). The ancient versions (G, S, T, V), along with some Masoretic manuscripts, attest to a 3mp suffix (בפיהם or בפימו).

**Noun Morphology**
Verse	Noun	Gender	Number	State	Suffix	Definiteness	Root	Syntactic Function
2a	אֲמָרַ֖י	m	p	abs.	1cs	+	אמר	O
	יְהוָ֗ה		s	abs.		+		voc.
2b	הֲגִֽיגִי	m	s	abs.	1cs	+	הגג	O
3a	לְק֬וֹל	m	s	cstr.		+	קול	O
	מַלְכִּ֥י	m	s	abs.	1cs	+	מלך	voc.
	וֵאלֹהָ֑י	m	p	abs.	1cs	+	אלה	voc.
4a	יְהוָה		s	abs.		+		voc.
	בֹּ֭קֶר	m	s	abs.			בקר	M
	קוֹלִ֑י	m	s	abs.	1cs	+	קול	O
4b	בֹּ֥קֶר	m	s	abs.			בקר	M
5a	אֵֽל	m	s	abs.			אלה	SC
	רֶ֥שַׁע	m	s	abs.			רשע	O (embedded)
5b	רָֽע	m	s	abs.			רעע	S
6a	עֵינֶ֑יךָ	f	p	abs.	2ms	+	עין	M
6b	כָּל	m	s	cstr.			כלל	O
	אָֽוֶן	m	s	abs.			און	O
7a	כָ֫זָ֥ב	m	s	abs.			כזב	O
7b	אִישׁ	m	s	cstr.			אישׁ	O
	דָּמִ֥ים	m	p	abs.			דמם	O
	וּמִרְמָ֗ה	f	s	abs.			רמה	O
	יְהוָה		s	abs		+		S
8a	בְּרֹ֣ב	m	s	cstr.		+	רבב	M
	חַ֭סְדְּךָ	m	s	abs.	2ms	+	חסד	M
	בֵיתֶ֑ךָ	m	s	abs.	2ms	+	בית	M
8b	הֵֽיכַל	m	s	cstr.		+	היכל	M
	קָ֜דְשְׁךָ֗	m	s	abs.	2ms	+	קדשׁ	M
	בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ	f	s	abs.	2ms	+	ירא	M
9a	יהוה		s	abs.		+		voc.
	בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ	f	s	abs.	2ms	+	צדק	M
	שׁוֹרְרָ֑י	m	p	abs.	1cs.	+	שׁור	M
9b	לְפָנַ֣י	m	p	abs.	1cs	+	פנה	M
	דַּרְכֶּֽךָ	m	s	abs.	2ms	+	דרך	O
10a	בְּפִ֡יהוּ	m	s	abs.	3ms	+	פה	SC
	נְכוֹנָה֘	f	s	abs.			כון	S
10b	קִרְבָּ֪ם	m	s	abs.	3mp	+	קרב	S
	הַ֫וּ֥וֹת	f	p	abs.			חוה	SC
10c	קֶֽבֶר	m	s	abs.			קבר	SC
	גְּרוֹנָ֑ם	m	s	abs.	3mp	+	גרה	S
10d	לְ֜שׁוֹנָ֗ם	m	s	abs.	3mp	+	לשׁן	S
11a	אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים	m	p	abs.		+	אלה	voc.
11b	מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם	f	p	abs.	3mp	+	יעץ	M
11c	בְּרֹ֣ב	m	s	cstr.		+	רבב	M
	פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם	m	p	cstr.	3mp	+	פשׁע	M
12a	כָל	m	s	cstr.			כלל	S
12b	לְעוֹלָ֣ם	m	s	abs.			עלם	M
12d	שְׁמֶֽךָ	m	s	abs.	2ms	+	שׁם	O (embedded)
13a	צַ֫דִּ֥יק	m	s	abs.			צדק	O
13b	יְהוָ֑ה		s	abs		+		voc.
	כַּ֜צִּנָּ֗ה	f	s	abs.		+	צנן	M
	רָצ֥וֹן	m	s	abs.			רצה	M

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Suffixes as objects

Definition Feature being studied	Occurrences Sections where this feature is present or absent	Clustering	Intersection
3ms	תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ (v.13b)		end of psalm (v.13b)
3mp	ַֽהַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֙ם (v.11a), הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ (v.11c)	v.11
1cs	נְחֵ֬נִי (v.9a)		middle line of psalm, beginning of section 3 (vv.9-12)

,

Addressee change

Yahweh is addressed throughout the entire psalm.
This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Speaker change

David is the speaker throughout the entire psalm.
This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.,

Subject change

There are basically four subjects in the psalm: 1) Yahweh, 2) David, 3) the wicked, 4) the righteous

**Character Features**
Ref.	Speaker	Addressee	Person	Subject/Agent	Object/Undergoer
2a	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	David's words
2b	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	David's mutterings
3a	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	David's voice
3b	David	Yahweh	1	David	Yahweh
4a	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	David's voice
4b	David	Yahweh	1	David	Yahweh / David
5a	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	n/a
5b	David	Yahweh	3	wickedness	Yahweh
6a	David	Yahweh	3	the wicked	Yahweh
6b	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	the wicked
7a	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	the wicked
7b	David	Yahweh	3	Yahweh	the wicked
8a	David	Yahweh	1	David	David
8b	David	Yahweh	1	David	David
9a	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	David
9b	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	Yahweh's paths
10a	David	Yahweh	3	steadiness	n/a
10b	David	Yahweh	3	the wicked's insides	n/a
10c	David	Yahweh	3	the wicked's throat	n/a
10d	David	Yahweh	3	the wicked's tongue	the wicked's tongue
11a	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	the wicked
11b	David	Yahweh	3	the wicked	the wicked
11c	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	the wicked
11d	David	Yahweh	3	the wicked	Yahweh
12a	David	Yahweh	3	the righteous	the righteous
12b	David	Yahweh	3	the righteous	the righteous
12c	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	the righteous
12d	David	Yahweh	3	the righteous	the righteous
13a	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	the righteous
13b	David	Yahweh	2	Yahweh	the righteous

This feature is considered relevant for this psalm.

Particles[ ]

Negative markers

Distribution

2a
2b
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a	לֹא
5b	לֹא
6a	לֹא
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
10a		אֵין
10b
10c
10d
11a
11b
11c
11d
12a
12b
12c
12d
13a
13b

Clustering

vv.5-6

Connections

Both v.5a and v.10a are negated verbless clauses that begin with כִּי.

Structural Significance

Section 2.2 consists of the three negative statements (vv.5ab-6a) followed by three positive statements (vv.6b-7ab).
Negative markers play a role in defining the macrostructure of the psalm. Both v.5a and v.10a are negated verbless clauses that begin with כִּי. They open parallel subsections in the psalm (2.2 [vv.5-7] and 3.2 [vv.10-11] respectively).,

Independent personal pronouns

Distribution

2a
2b
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a	אַתָּה
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a		וַאֲנִי
8b
9a
9b
10a
10b
10c
10d
11a
11b
11c
11d
12a
12b
12c
12d
13a	אַתָּה
13b

Structural Significance

Anaphora: independent personal pronouns are found in the opening line of sections 2.2, 2.3, and 4.,

Prepositions

Distribution

2a
2b
3a	לְקוֹל
3b		אֵלֶיךָ
4a	לְךָ
4b
5a	לְנֶגֶד		לְנֶגֶד
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a				בְּרֹב
8b		אֶל הֵיכַל קָדְשׁךָ		בְּיִראָתֶךָ
9a				בְצִדְקָתֶךָ
9b	לְפָנַי
10a				בְּפִיהוּ
10b
10c
10d
11a
11b					מִמֹּעֲצוֹתֵיהֶם
11c				בְּרֹב
11d				בָךְ
12a				בָךְ
12b	לְעוֹלָם
12c						עָלֵימוֹ
12d				בְךָ
13a
13b							כַּ֜צִּנָּ֗ה

Clustering

The preposition בְּ occurs 8 times in the psalm, clustering in vv.8-9 and vv.11-12.

Connections

The preposition בְּ occurs with a 2ms suffix in pausal form (בָךְ) at the end of consecutive lines (11d, 12a). This feature creates a strong contrast: while the wicked rebel against (בְּ) Yahweh, the righteous take refuge in (בְּ) him.
The preposition בְּ connects parallel lines at v.8ab (conjunctive) and v.12ad (disjunctive).,

Waw/Vav

Coordinating Phrases

v.3a: nouns מַלְכִּ֥י וֵאלֹהָי
v.4b: verbs אֶעֱרָךְ־לְ֜ךָ וַאֲצַפֶּֽה
v.7b: nouns אִישׁ־דָּמִים וּמִרְמָה

Coordinating Lines

v.12b --(waw + yiqtol verb [וְתָסֵךְ])--> v.12c
v.12c --(waw + yiqtol verb [וְיַעְלְצוּ])--> v.12d

Coordinating Sections

Section 2.2 --(waw + pronoun [וַאֲנִי])--> Section 2.3
Section 3.2 --(waw + yiqtol verb [וְיִשְׂמְחוּ])--> Section 3.3,

Other particles

2a
2b
3a
3b	כִּי
4a
4b
5a	כִּי
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a		לְמַעַן
9b
10a	כִּי
10b
10c
10d
11a
11b
11c
11d	כִּי
12a
12b
12c
12d
13a	כִּי
13b

כִּי

v.3b, כִּֽי־אֵלֶ֗יךָ אֶתְפַּלָּל
- connects v.3b to v.3a and perhaps also to v.2
- introduces reason why Yahweh should listen: "because I am praying to you" (constituent focus)
v.5a, כִּ֤י לֹא אֵל־חָפֵץ רֶשַׁע אָתָּה
- connects vv.5-7 (section 2.2.) to v.4 (section 2.1)
- introduces grounds for the confident profession in v.4
v.10a, כִּ֤י אֵין בְּפִיהוּ נְכוֹנָה
- connects vv.10-11 (section 3.2.) to v.9 (section 3.1)
- introduces reason for the petition in v.9 and further describes שׁוֹרְרַי (v.9a)
v.11d, כִּי־מָרוּ בָךְ
- connects v.11d to v.11abc
- introduces grounds for petitions in v.11abc
v.13a, כִּֽי־אַתָּה תְּבָרֵךְ צַדִּ֥יק
- introduces conclusion to the psalm (cf. Ps. 1:6)

לְמַעַן

v.9a, לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי,

Content vs non-content

There are four sections in the psalm. Section 1 (vv.2-3) is an introduction, and Section 4 (v.13) is a conclusion. Section 2 (vv.4-8) and Section 3 (vv.9-12) form the body of the psalm. These two middle sections exhibit parallelism at the macro-level (ABC // A'B'C'). Function words (כִּי, לֹא/אֵין, וְ) are used to support and clarify this parallel structure, as summarized in the following table.

	Section 2 (vv.4-8)	Section 3 (vv.9-12)
Profession/Petition (line initial vocative)	2.1 (v.4), ...יהוה	‎3.1 (v.9), ...יהוה
Grounds (כִּי + neg. + verbless clause)	2.2 (vv.5-7), ...כִּי לֹא	‎3.2 (vv.10-11), ...כִּי אֵין
Contrast (line initial waw)	2.3 (v.8), וַאֲנִי	‎3.3 (v.12), וְיִשְׂמְחוּ

Figurative[ ]

Metaphor

v.9ab. The image of a pathway (דֶּרֶךְ) maps onto Yahweh's righteousness. This metaphorical mapping is suggested by the parallelism (בצדקתך // דרכך). Yahweh's pathway (=lifestyle) is characterized by righteousness and justice (cf. Gen. 18:19). The psalmist (the king) asks to be guided along this pathway (=that his life and reign would align with Yahweh's characteristic righteousness), because it is the righteous (צדיק) whom Yahweh blesses. The pathway imagery here at the heart of Psalm 5 forges one of several links with Psalm 1.
v.10b. The image of "destructive ruin" (הַוּוֹת) maps onto the "insides" (קרב) of the psalmist's enemies.
v.10c. The image of an open grave (קבר פתוח), an image that connotes death, ritual uncleanness, and a foul stench, maps onto the "throat" (גרון) of the psalmist's enemies. Their words are thus like the unclean odor exuded by a rotting corpse.
v.12 Yahweh is a refuge (v.12ac).,

Simile

v.13b. Yahweh is compared to "the shield" (כַּצִּנָּה) – this generic use of the article is common in similes. The צִנָּה was a "long, oblong shield. It was about the height of a man since it was intended to protect the entire body."^[5] In this respect, the צִנָּה differed from the smaller מָגֵן (cf. Ps.3:4). In Ps. 5:13, the image of a shield (צִנָּה) "connotes encompassing protection"^[6] and maps onto Yahweh as the protector of the righteous.,

Metonymy

v.10. The various body-parts in v.10 are related metonymically to the act of speaking. Speech originates as a thought inside a person (קרב), proceeds through the throat (גרון) and out of the mouth (פה) by way of the tongue (לשׁון). The psalmist declares that each of these parts, and thus the speech of his enemies from beginning to end, is corrupt. The various images are presented in a chiastic arrangement.
- v.10a. "Mouth" (פֶּה) is metonymic for speech.
- v.10b. "Insides" (קֶרֶב) are metonymic for the "the inner psychological and spiritual core of a person"^[7] (LXX: καρδία) which is the seat of that person's thoughts (see Jer. 4:14). What comes out of the "mouth" (10a) and the "tongue" (10d) begins inside a person (10b).
- v.10c. "Throat" or "windpipe" (גָּרוֹן) is associated with a person's voice (Isa. 58:1; Ps.69:4; 115:7). In Ps. 5:10, the "throat" is the point at which the thoughts of a person's inner being (10b) begins to be articulated into sound.
- v.10d. "Tongue" (לָשׁוֹן) is metonymic for speech. The smoothness of their tongues (חלק) is metonymic for flattery.,

Personification

v.5b. The adjective רַע, which functions as a substantive, may refer to "an evil person" (so LXX, πονηρευόμενος). Alternatively, this may be an instance of personification. "Evil (רע) may not sojourn" with Yahweh.,

Anthropomorphism

Yahweh has ears (v.2a - הַאֲזִ֥ינָה)
Yahweh has eyes (v.6a - עֵינֶ֑יךָ)
Yahweh is a king (v.3a - מַלְכִּ֥י)
Yahweh is a refuge (v.12a - כָל־ח֪וֹסֵי בָ֡ךְ)
Yahweh inhabits a house (v.5b - יְגֻרְךָ֣; v.8a - בֵיתֶ֑ךָ)

Anthropatheia

Yahweh's delight/favor (v.5a, חָפֵ֨ץ; v.13b - רָצ֥וֹן)
Yahweh hates (v.6b - שָׂ֜נֵ֗אתָ; v.7b - יְתָ֨עֵ֥ב)

Context[ ]

Figures of Speech

Figures/Evocative language seem to predominate in the second half of the psalm, especially section 3 (vv.9-12). This macro-level feature may correspond to the tendency within parallel lines toward the heightening of the b-line.,

Historical background

The Psalm appears to presuppose a situation in which the king (David, the Psalmist) faces a rebellion. Wicked men who want to exalt themselves to a position of power (הוללים, cf. Ps. 75:5-11) have rebelled against Yahweh (v.11d). "Verses 5f. suggest that they aspire to the privileges of God's ruler – to have God's legitimizing favor, to reside with him and be stationed before his eyes [cf. Ps. 41:13]."^[8] Meanwhile, David, the legitimate king, appears to have been displaced from the vicinity of Yahweh's house (v.8a). These several details correspond well with the rebellion of Absalom (2 Sam. 15-17), mentioned in the superscription of Psalm 3, where Absalom usurped David's throne through smooth talk (Ps. 5:10d; cf. 2 Sam. 15:1-7), and David, forced to flee Jerusalem, longed to return (Ps. 5:8; cf. 2 Sam 15:25).,

Reference/allusions

v.8a. Reference to Yahweh's חֶסֶד in this Davidic prayer (לדוד) recalls the covenant between Yahweh and David (2 Sam. 7:15)
v.9ab. Reference to Yahweh's pathway (דרך) as a figure for his righteousness (צדקה) may point to Gen. 18:19, where walking on Yahweh's path (דרך) by doing righteousness (צדקה) is said to be the prerequisite for receiving the Abrahamic blessings. The king in Psalm 5, knowing that the righteous will receive Yahweh's blessing (תברך צדיק, v.13a), asks to be guided down the path of Yahweh's righteousness.,

Alluded to in NT

Psalm 5:10 (LXX) is quoted by Paul in Rom. 3:13 within a catena of OT quotations, mostly from the psalms, that indict the human condition and show that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin.,

Other

Canonical Context
Ps 1. Psalm 5 exhibits a number of connections with Psalm 1. Both psalms are structured so as to highlight the contrast between the righteous and the wicked. Both begin with the letter א and end with a word beginning with ת. Both are didactic in function. In addition to these broad poetic features, there are a number of lexical links. "Gianni Barbiero (1999:76–77) has noted and neatly tabulated the various connections between Psalm 5 and Psalm 1. He has noted the links between the ‘wicked people’ [רשׁעים] in Psalm 1:1, 4, 5 and 6 and ‘wickedness’ [רע] in Psalm 5:5; the ‘counsel of the wicked’ [עצת רשׁעים] in 1:1 and ‘their counsels’ [those of the wicked, מעצותיהם] in 5:11; the ‘delight’ [חפץ] of the righteous in 1:2 and Yahweh’s lack of ‘delight’ in wickedness in 5:5; the ‘righteous persons’ [צדיקים] in 1:5 and 6 and the ‘righteous person’ [צדיק] in 5:13; the fact that the road of the wicked will ‘perish’ [אבד] in 1:6 and the note that Yahweh will ‘destroy’ [אבד pi] the liars in 5:7; and the two instances of ‘road’ [דרך] in 1:6 and the reference to Yahweh’s ‘road’ [דרך] in 5:9."^[9]
Ps 2. "Psalm 5 has also been linked by the editors to Psalm 2. Barbiero (1999:77) notes the repetition of eight words or phrases and says that the themes connecting the two psalms are primarily the connection with the temple and Zion theology and further the confrontation in both psalms with the enemies of Yahweh and his anointed. The suppliant of Psalm 5 is, after all, David, the anointed (5:1). He further states that the contrast between 2:2 and 5:6 is conspicuous: The kings of the earth ‘take a stand’ [יתיצבו] against Yahweh and his anointed (2:2), but 5:6 responds by stating that the wicked will not be able to ‘withstand’ [לא־יתיצבו] Yahweh. He also refers to the exact repetition of כל־חוסי בו from 2:12 in the phrase כל־חוסי בך in 5:12, in both instances at the end of the psalm."^[10]
Ps 3. The reference to Yahweh as a "shield" (צנה) recalls the image in Psalm 3:4. Psalms 3 and 5 are further connected by virtue of the fact that they are both morning psalms (Ps. 3:6; 5:4). Furthermore, the historical situation named in Psalm 3:1 may apply also to Psalm 5 (see above).

Mathematical[ ]

Fokkelman's prosody and syllable counts

The following table is from Fokkelman's Major Poems of the Hebrew Bible Volume 2, Appendix I.^[11]

Strophe	Verse	Syllables per word	Syllables per line	Syllables per strophe
1	2	3.3.2 / 2.3	8 + 5 = 13	48
	3	3.2.2.2.3 / 1.3.3	12 + 7 = 19
	4	2.1.2.2 / 1.2.2.4	7 + 9 = 16
2	5	1.1.1.2.1.2 / 1.3.1	8 + 5 = 13	53
	6	1.4.3 / 2.3 / 3.1.3.1	8 + 5 + 8 = 21
	7	3.3.2 / 1.2.3.3.2	8 + 11 = 19
3	8	3.2.3.2.3 / 3.1.2.3.5	13 + 14 = 27	50
	9	2.3.5 / 2.3 /2.3.3	10 + 5 + 8 = 23
4	10ab	1.1.3.3 / 2.2	8 + 4 = 12	24
	10cd	1.2.3 / 3.3	6 + 6 = 12
5	11ab	3.3 / 3.6	6 + 9 = 15	28
	11cd	2.3.4 / 1.2.1	9 + 4 = 13
6	12ab	4.1.2.1 / 3.4	8 + 7 = 15	53
	12cd	3.3 / 4.2.3.3	6 + 12 = 18
	13ab	1.2.3.2.2 / 3.2.5!	10 + 10 = 20

"32 cola with 256 syllables; average per colon 8.00."^[12]
"The total of 256 syllables is made up of two groups of 128 syllables. The 128 is the total for both vv.2-8 and vv.9-13."^[13]
Fokkelman emends the vocalization of the MT at v.13b (תַּעְטְרֶנּוּ [qal] --> תְּעַטְּרֶנּוּ [piel]), resulting in 256 rather than 255 syllables.,

Alternative prosody and syllable counts

The division of the psalm into two halves (vv.2-8, 128 syllables; vv.9-13, 128 syllables if the piel form is read in v.13b) corresponds well with the structural division proposed below, where the division between the two main sections of the psalm is between v.8 and v.9.

Section 1 (Introduction, vv.2-3) + Section 2 (vv.4-8) = 128 syllables

Section 3 (vv.9-12) + Section 4 (v.13, Conclusion) = 128 syllables,

Cola distribution

Bicola
Section 1 (vv.2-3), Section 2 (vv.4-8), and Section 4 (v.13) consist completely of bicola.

v.2ab
v.3ab
v.4ab
v.5ab
v.6ab
v.7ab
v.8ab
v.13ab

Tricola
This ABA tricolon begins the second half of the psalm

v.9abc

Tetracola
Tetracola cluster in Section 3 (vv.9-12) of the psalm. That these should be regarded as tetracola rather than bicola is supported by the MT's accents as well as the numerous features that gives cohesion to these correspondence groups. In each case, the b-line (10b, 11b, 12b) is so closely connected to the following line (10c, 11c, 12c) so as to make a bicolic division unlikely.

v.10abcd
- abb'a' chiasm (a: unsteady mouth, b: insides [קרב], b': throat [=קבר], a': slippery tongue)
v.11abcd
- v.11bc: abb'a' chiasm (a: V [יִפְּלוּ֘] b: M [מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם] b': M [בְּרֹ֣ב פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם] a': V [הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ])
- the interconnectedness of these lines is supported by the recursion of hiphil 2ms Imperatives in both 11a and 11c.
v.12abcd
- abb'a' chiasm (a: w-V S^ptc [וְיִשְׂמְח֙וּ כָל־ח֪וֹסֵי בָ֡ךְ], b: M V [לְעוֹלָ֣ם יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ], b': V M [וְתָסֵ֣ךְ עָלֵ֑ימוֹ], a': w-V S^ptc [וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ בְ֜ךָ֗ אֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁמֶֽךָ]),

Selah

Selah does not appear in this psalm.,

Chiasms

v.2ab (abc // b'a')

^cיְהוָ֗ה	^bהַאֲזִ֥ינָה	^aאֲמָרַ֖י
	^a'הֲגִֽיגִי	^b'בִּ֣ינָה

Chiastic Correspondences:

syntactic (O V // V O)
morphological (m.n.1csx / ms impv. // ms impv. / m.n.1csx)
phonological correspondence between b (הַאֲזִ֥ינָה) and b' (בִּ֣ינָה)

v.3ab (abc // b'a')

^cמַלְכִּ֥י וֵאלֹהָ֑י	^bלְק֬וֹל שַׁוְעִ֗י	^aהַקְשִׁ֤יבָה
	^a'אֶתְפַּלָּֽל	^b'כִּֽי־אֵ֜לֶ֗יךָ

Chiastic Correspondences:

grammatical (V M^pp // M^pp V)

v.6ab (abc // c'b')

^cלְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינֶ֑יךָ	^bהֽ֭וֹלְלִים	^aלֹֽא־יִתְיַצְּב֣וּ
^b'כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃	^c'שָׂ֜נֵ֗אתָ

Chiastic Correspondences:

semantic (evildoers / Yahweh // Yahweh / evildoers)
phonological correspondence between b (עֵינֶ֑יךָ) and b' (שָׂ֜נֵ֗אתָ)

v.7ab (ab // b'a')

^bדֹּבְרֵ֪י כָ֫זָ֥ב	^aתְּאַבֵּד֘
^a'יְתָ֨עֵ֥ב׀ יְהוָֽה	^b'אִישׁ־דָּמִ֥ים וּמִרְמָ֗ה

Chiastic Correspondences:

syntactic (V O // O V)
morphological (piel yiqtol verb / bound phrase // bound phrase / piel yiqtol verb)
strengthened by phonological correspondences: alliteration of labials in b and b'; both verbs (a, a') have dental + guttural + labial with the same basic vowel pattern

v.8ab (abc//b'c'a')

	^cבֵיתֶ֑ךָ	^bאָב֣וֹא	^aבְּרֹ֣ב חַ֭סְדְּךָ	וַאֲנִ֗י
^a'בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ׃	^c'אֶל־הֵֽיכַל־קָ֜דְשְׁךָ֗	^b'אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה

Chiastic Correspondences:

syntactic (S^pn M^ב V M // V M M^ב)
morphological (ב-np-2msx / qal yiqtol 1cs / ms.noun-2msx // qal yiqtol 1cs / ms.np-2msx / ב-noun-2msx)
semantic (abstract noun / motion verb / Yahweh's temple // motion verb / Yahweh's temple / abstract noun)

v.9ab (abc // c'b')

^cלְמַ֥עַן שׁוֹרְרָ֑י	^bנְחֵ֬נִי בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ	^aיְהוָ֤ה׀
^b'דַּרְכֶּֽךָ׃	^c'הַושַׁ֖ר לְפָנַ֣י

Chiastic Correspondences:

Phonological correspondences between c and c' (alliteration of שׁ + ר; rhyming of ay-diphthong) and b and b' (ךָ ending)
Semantic correspondence between b and b' (semantic domain of pathway; pathway as a figure for righteousness [בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ = דַּרְכֶּֽךָ])

v.10abcd (ab // b'a')
These lines are interconnected by a number of complementary patterns, some of which are chiastic. The tetracolon as a whole forms a single ab//b'a' chiasm based on phonological and semantic correspondences (see below). Within this larger chiasm, there are smaller chiasms based on syntax (ab//ba//ab//ba) as the subject/predicate word order alternates. In addition to these chiastic patterns, there is a non-chiastic (abab) pattern that connects these verses as the predicates alternate grammatical number (sg/pl/sg/pl).

^Sub נְכוֹנָה֘	^Predכִּ֤י אֵ֪ין בְּפִ֡יהוּ	A	singular
^Predהַ֫וּ֥וֹת	^Subקִרְבָּ֪ם	B	plural
^Sub גְּרוֹנָ֑ם	^Predקֶֽבֶר־פָּת֥וּחַ	B'	singular
^Predיַחֲלִֽיקוּן׃	^Subלְ֜שׁוֹנָ֗ם	A'	plural

Chiastic Correspondences:

The clearest correspondence is that between 10b and 10c, forged by the phonological recursion of the consonants ק–ר–ב (*the same as בקר, cf. v.4ab).
The connection between 10bc is also semantic: "open grave" (קבר פתוח) corresponds to "chasm" (הוה), and "throat" (גרון) corresponds to "insides" (קרב).
10a and 10d also correspond semantically: steadiness (נכונה) and slipperiness (חלק) are opposites, while mouth (פה) and tongue (לשׁון) are clearly associated.

v.11bc (ab // b'a')
The chiasm in v.11 is limited to the two middle lines (11bc). The (sg/pl/sg/pl) predicate pattern of the previous verse continues in this verse as well..

אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים	הַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֙ם׀	singular
^b מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם	^aיִפְּלוּ֘	plural
^a' הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ	^b'בְּרֹ֣ב פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם	singular
בָֽךְ׃	כִּי־מָ֥רוּ	plural

Chiastic Correspondences:

11bc: syntactic (V / M^pp // M^pp V)
11bc: morphological (verb / prep+noun+3msx // pp+np+3msx / verb)
11bc: semantic (modal verb involving destruction / "schemes" // "evil-doings" / modal verb involving destruction)

v.12abcd (ab // b'a')
As in v.10abcd, so this tetracolon forms a single ab//b'a' chiasm, within which the middle lines (12bc) form a smaller chiasm.

^bכָל־ח֪וֹסֵי בָ֡ךְ	^aוְיִשְׂמְח֙וּ	A
^aיְ֭רַנֵּנוּ	^cלְעוֹלָ֣ם	B
^c עָלֵ֑ימוֹ	^aוְתָסֵ֣ךְ	B'
^bאֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁמֶֽךָ׃	^aוְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ בְ֜ךָ֗	A'

Chiastic Correspondences:

Grammatical correspondence between 12a and 12d: both have Verb (qal weyiqtol) + Subject (qal ptc construct chain)
Phonological correspondence between 12a and 12d: בָךְ//בְךָ
Phonological correspondence between 12b and 12c: לעולם // עלימו; each line is two words.
12bc form a chiasm based on grammatical and phonological features: M (לעולם) V (yiqtol) // V (yiqtol) M (עלימו),

Lunn on Word order

The following table has been adapted from Nicholas Lunn's Word-Order Variation in Biblical Hebrew Poetry, Appendix 2.^[14] For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ref.	Text	Constituent Order	Colon-Type
2	‎אֲמָרַ֖י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה׀ יְהוָ֗ה // בִּ֣ינָה הֲגִֽיגִי׃	[Voc] O V [Voc] // V O	DEF//CAN
3	‎הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה׀ לְק֬וֹל שַׁוְעִ֗י מַלְכִּ֥י וֵאלֹהָ֑י / כִּֽי־אֵ֜לֶ֗יךָ אֶתְפַּלָּֽל׃	V M [Voc] / C-M V	CAN/MKD
4	‎יְֽהוָ֗ה בֹּ֭קֶר תִּשְׁמַ֣ע קוֹלִ֑י // בֹּ֥קֶר אֶֽעֱרָךְ־לְ֜ךָ֗ וַאֲצַפֶּֽה׃	[Voc] M V O // M V-M w-V	MKD//MKD-CAN
5	‎כִּ֤י׀ לֹ֤א אֵֽל־חָפֵ֨ץ רֶ֥שַׁע׀ אָ֑תָּה // לֹ֖א יְגֻרְךָ֣ רָֽע׃	C Comp^Ng S^Pn // V^Ng-o S	Nom/CAN
6	‎לֹֽא־יִתְיַצְּב֣וּ הֽ֭וֹלְלִים לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינֶ֑יךָ // שָׂ֜נֵ֗אתָ כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃	V^Ng S M // V O	CAN//CAN
7	תְּאַבֵּד֘ דֹּבְרֵ֪י כָ֫זָ֥ב // אִישׁ־דָּמִ֥ים וּמִרְמָ֗ה יְתָ֨עֵ֥ב׀ יְהוָֽה׃	V O // O O V S	CAN//DEF
8	וַאֲנִ֗י בְּרֹ֣ב חַ֭סְדְּךָ אָב֣וֹא בֵיתֶ֑ךָ // אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה אֶל־הֵֽיכַל־קָ֜דְשְׁךָ֗ בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ׃	w-S^Pn M V O // V M M	DEF//CAN
9	יְהוָ֤ה׀ נְחֵ֬נִי בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ לְמַ֥עַן שׁוֹרְרָ֑י / הַושַׁ֖ר לְפָנַ֣י דַּרְכֶּֽךָ׃	[Voc] V-o M M // V M O	CAN//CAN
10	כִּ֤י אֵ֪ין בְּפִ֡יהוּ נְכוֹנָה֘ // קִרְבָּ֪ם הַ֫וּ֥וֹת // קֶֽבֶר־פָּת֥וּחַ גְּרוֹנָ֑ם // לְ֜שׁוֹנָ֗ם יַחֲלִֽיקוּן׃	C E^Ng Comp S // S Comp // Comp S // M V	Nom//Nom//Nom//DEF
11	הַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֙ם׀ אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים / יִפְּלוּ֘ מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם // בְּרֹ֣ב פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ / כִּי־מָ֥רוּ בָֽךְ׃	V-o [Voc] / V M // M V-o / C-V M	CAN/CAN//DEF/CAN
12ab	‎וְיִשְׂמְח֙וּ כָל־ח֪וֹסֵי בָ֡ךְ // לְעוֹלָ֣ם יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ	w-V S // M V	CAN//DEF
12cd	‎וְתָסֵ֣ךְ עָלֵ֑ימוֹ / וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ בְ֜ךָ֗ אֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁמֶֽךָ׃	V M / w-V M S	CAN/CAN
13	‎כִּֽי־אַתָּה֘ תְּבָרֵ֪ךְ צַ֫דִּ֥יק יְהוָ֑ה / כַּ֜צִּנָּ֗ה רָצ֥וֹן תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ׃	C-S^Pn V O [Voc] / M M V-o	MKD/DEF

DEF//CAN parallelism appears at key points of structural disjunction, namely the beginning of the psalm (v.2ab) and the end of the first half of the psalm (v.8ab).
MKD word order also intersects with the poems structural divisions: v.3b ends Section 1; v.4ab begins Section 2; and v.13 concludes the Psalm.
Every major sectional division in the psalm is marked by some variation in word order (DEF//CAN or MKD),

Middle word (maqqef)

Total: 94 Middle: אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה אֶל־הֵֽיכַל־קָ֜דְשְׁךָ֗,

Middle word (independent lexemes)

Total: 106 Middle: אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה אֶל,

Middle line

v.9abc.

יְהוָ֤ה׀ נְחֵ֬נִי בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ

לְמַ֥עַן שׁוֹרְרָ֑י

הַושַׁ֖ר לְפָנַ֣י דַּרְכֶּֽךָ׃

This is in fact the most linguistically marked verse in the psalm. It is the only tricolon (so divided by the pausal forms). Other significant features include a direct address to Yahweh, the cluster of imperatives, evocative pathway imagery (cf. Ps.1), alliteration and rhyme (שׁוֹרְרַי –– הַושַׁר לְפָנַי). The content of this tricolon also stands out as the central petition of the psalm. The previous invocation (vv.2-3) and profession (vv.4-8) build up to this point.
The centrality of v.9 is supported by various other recursive features. "As was the case in the previous Psalm, Ps. 5 also has a central knot from which threads run to beginning and end. This is demonstrated by three aspects: God's proper name occurs three [correction: four] times in the vocative: in the first and last verses, and in the middle, v.9 [correction: Fokkelman omits v.4]. This poetic line and the opening v.2 both have a vocative accompanied by two imperatives (2nd person to God). The central verse is linked to the final verse in that they both contain a noun from the root צדק."^[15]

Variants[ ]

Kinds of variants

v.9b. Qere: הַיְשַׁר / Kethiv: הוֹשַׁר
v.13b. The ancient versions (LXX, Aquila, Symmachus, Vulgate, Targum) along with some medieval Hebrew manuscripts support the vocalization of the final verb of the psalm (תעטרנו) as a Piel (תְּעַטְּרֶנּוּ).,

Likely solutions

v.9b. The verb ישׁר is one of seven original I-yod verbs that occur in the Bible. The expected form for the Hiphil imperative would be הֵישַׁר. Both the qere and the kethiv readings differ from this expected reading. The qere reading gives an uncontracted form (הַיְשַׁר, cf. Prov. 4:25), while the kethiv reading gives a form for I-waw verbs (הוֹשַׁר). (See Isa. 45:2 for a similar problem.)^[16] The kethiv form (הוֹשַׁר) makes for a closer phonological correspondence with שׁוֹרְרַי in the previous line, as repetition of the long o-vowel combines with the alliteration of the consonants שׁ and ר.
v.13b. "The choice for Piel may be supported in two additional ways. Within v.13, this form is the ocunterpart to tbrk, another Piel, which contributes to a chiastic word order in the verse. There is also a supporting pattern: in the poem there is a balance of seven Piel and seven Hiphil forms. Of each of these root formations there are four forms occurring as pairs, for the purpose of a regular (horizontal parallelismus membrorum and of a vertical parallelism. In the same way as the Piel forms of v.13 find their counterparts in v.7, so do the two Hiphil forms in v.11 have their opposite numbers in vv.2a/3a."^[17]

Summary[ ]

Line divisions

2a אֲמָרַ֖י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה׀ יְהוָ֗ה

2b בִּ֣ינָה הֲגִֽיגִי׃

3a הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה׀ לְק֬וֹל שַׁוְעִ֗י מַלְכִּ֥י וֵאלֹהָ֑י

3b כִּֽי־אֵ֜לֶ֗יךָ אֶתְפַּלָּֽל׃

4a יְֽהוָ֗ה בֹּ֭קֶר תִּשְׁמַ֣ע קוֹלִ֑י

4b בֹּ֥קֶר אֶֽעֱרָךְ־לְ֜ךָ֗ וַאֲצַפֶּֽה׃

5a כִּ֤י׀ לֹ֤א אֵֽל־חָפֵ֨ץ רֶ֥שַׁע׀ אָ֑תָּה

5b לֹ֖א יְגֻרְךָ֣ רָֽע׃

6a לֹֽא־יִתְיַצְּב֣וּ הֽ֭וֹלְלִים לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינֶ֑יךָ

6b שָׂ֜נֵ֗אתָ כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃

7a תְּאַבֵּד֘ דֹּבְרֵ֪י כָ֫זָ֥ב

7b אִישׁ־דָּמִ֥ים וּמִרְמָ֗ה יְתָ֨עֵ֥ב׀ יְהוָֽה׃

8a וַאֲנִ֗י בְּרֹ֣ב חַ֭סְדְּךָ אָב֣וֹא בֵיתֶ֑ךָ

8b אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה אֶל־הֵֽיכַל־קָ֜דְשְׁךָ֗ בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ׃

9a יְהוָ֤ה׀ נְחֵ֬נִי בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ

9b לְמַ֥עַן שׁוֹרְרָ֑י

9c הַושַׁ֖ר לְפָנַ֣י דַּרְכֶּֽךָ׃

10a כִּ֤י אֵ֪ין בְּפִ֡יהוּ נְכוֹנָה֘

10b קִרְבָּ֪ם הַ֫וּ֥וֹת

10c קֶֽבֶר־פָּת֥וּחַ גְּרוֹנָ֑ם

10d לְ֜שׁוֹנָ֗ם יַחֲלִֽיקוּן׃

11a הַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֙ם׀ אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים

11b יִפְּלוּ֘ מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם

11c בְּרֹ֣ב פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ

11d כִּי־מָ֥רוּ בָֽךְ׃

12a וְיִשְׂמְח֙וּ כָל־ח֪וֹסֵי בָ֡ךְ

12b לְעוֹלָ֣ם יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ

12c וְתָסֵ֣ךְ עָלֵ֑ימוֹ

12d וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ בְ֜ךָ֗ אֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁמֶֽךָ׃

13a כִּֽי־אַתָּה֘ תְּבָרֵ֪ךְ צַ֫דִּ֥יק

13b יְהוָ֑ה כַּ֜צִּנָּ֗ה רָצ֥וֹן תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ׃

As Fokkelman notes, the lineation of this psalm varies significantly among various commentaries and translations. "The allotted number of cola ranges from 20 to 38: a shocking divergence of almost a hundred percent!"^[18] The above lineation is based primarily on syntax (1 colon = 1 clause). One exception to this rule is v.4b where וַאֲצַפֶּֽה is included with the previous clause since (1) it is only one word, (2) it is a weyiqtol form and so is closely connected to the previous clause, (3) there is neither a strong disjunctive accent nor a pause with לְךָ. The other exception is v.9, in which the first clause divides into two cola. The three-fold division of this verse is marked by three pausal forms.^[19] Fokkelman arrives at the same conclusion for v.9, though by reasons of length rather than pausal forms. "In v.9, the A-colon, consisting of ten-syllables, is already so long that the next two words (five syllables) cannot be added on."^[20] The result is a 31 line poem. Fokkelman himself comes out with 32 lines, since he proceeds to divide v.6 also into a tricolon "for the sake of consistency."^[21] However, his decision to divide v.9 into three lines is not well founded. It is based on length, whereas the length of lines in this psalm is far from uniform (4-14/15 syllables).,

Section divisions

Section 1 (vv.2-3)

Section 2 (vv.4-8)

A Section 2.1 (v.4)

B Section 2.2 (vv.5-7)

C Section 2.3 (v.8)

Section 3 (vv.9-12)

A' Section 3.1 (v.9)

B' Section 3.2 (vv.10-11)

C' Section 3.3 (v.12)

Section 4 (v.13),

Communicative function

Section 1 (vv.2-3) – Invocation

Section 2 (vv.4-8) – Profession of Trust

Section 3 (vv.9-12) – Petition

Section 4 (v.13) – Profession of Trust,

Main message

Yahweh rejects the wicked and blesses the righteous.,

Large-scale structures

Section 2 (vv.4-8) and Section 3 (vv.9-12), which constitute the body of the psalm, are parallel (ABC//A'B'C').

	Section 2 (vv.4-8)	Section 3 (vv.9-12)	Parallel Feature
A Profession/Petition	2.1 (v.4), ...יהוה	‎3.1 (v.9), ...יהוה	line initial vocative
B The Wicked	2.2 (vv.5-7), ...כִּי לֹא	‎3.2 (vv.10-11), ...כִּי אֵין	כִּי + neg. + verbless clause
C The Righteous	2.3 (v.8), וַאֲנִי	‎3.3 (v.12), וְיִשְׂמְחוּ	line initial waw

,

Outline or visual representation

(This began as Wendland's Expository outline^[22], but may be adapted.)

I. A prayer focusing on the deliverance of the righteous. (1-3, 7-8, 10)

A. Prayer.

1. Who he prays to. (1-2)

a. The Lord, His King and God.

Relationship is the basis of his prayer.

b. God is a hearing God.

c. Give ear means to hearken: It is like cupping your hand behind your ear so you can hear better.

2. When he prays: Morning. (3)

3. Where he prays. (7)

a. In the temple, not at a distance.

b. You are a temple: You can pray in the actual temple (church building), but you are also a temple:

1 Cor 3:16

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

4. What he prays. (8,10)

a. Lead me in the right way.

b. Make my way straight.

c. Deal with my foes.

(1) Hold them accountable.

(2) Let them fall by their own devices.

(3) Remove them from Your presence because of their rebellion.

5. How he prays. (1-3)

a. Directed prayer: To the Lord.

b. With an attitude of eager watching.

c. With an ordered prayer.

B. Praising. (11-12)

II. A prayer focusing on the destruction of the unrighteous. (4-6, 9-10)

A. Why. (4-5)

1. God takes no pleasure in wickedness.

2. No evil dwells with Him.

B. Who. (5-6, 9-10)

1. The boastful.

2. Workers of iniquity.

3. Liars.

4. Deceivers.

5. Those with uncontrolled speech.

6. The rebellious.

III. Praising God. (11-12)

A. Rejoice because your trust is in Him.

B. Shout for joy because He defends.

C. Be joyful because you love His name.

D. Rejoice because He will bless you and compass you with favor as a shield.

Authorship[ ]

This Psalm was authored by David.

Genre[ ]

Psalm 7, classified in the superscription as a מִזְמוֹר, is a Lament.

References[ ]

↑ IBHS, 7.4.2.
↑ J.P. Fokkelman, Major Poems of the Hebrew Bible: At the Interface of Prosody and Structural Analysis, Vol. 2 (Assen: Van Gorcum, 2000), 63.
↑ BHRG, 24.2.2
↑ BHRG, 24.4.4.
↑ Ray Pritz, The Works of Their Hands: Man-made things in the Bible (New York: UBS), 102.
↑ William Brown, Seeing the Psalms: A Theology of Metaphor (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), 199.
↑ Leland Ryken, James Wilhoit, and Tremper Longman III, eds., "Inner, Inside, Within," in Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (Downers Grove: IVP, 1998), 424.
↑ John Eaton, Kingship and the Psalms (London: SCM Press, 1976), 65.
↑ Phil J. Botha, “Psalm 5 and the Polarity between Those Who May Stand before Yahweh and Those Who May Not,” Hervormde Teologiese Studies 74, no. 1 (2018): 1–7.
↑ Phil J. Botha, “Psalm 5 and the Polarity between Those Who May Stand before Yahweh and Those Who May Not,” Hervormde Teologiese Studies 74, no. 1 (2018): 1–7.
↑ J.P. Fokkelman, Major Poems of the Hebrew Bible: At the Interface of Prosody and Structural Analysis, Vol. 2 (Assen: Van Gorcum, 2000), 390.
↑ Fokkelman, Major Poems, 390.
↑ Fokkelman, Major Poems, 65.
↑ Nicholas Lunn, Word-Order Variation in Biblical Hebrew Poetry: Differentiating Pragmatics and Poetics (Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2006).
↑ Fokkelman, Major Poems, 64-65.
↑ GKC, 70b.
↑ J.P. Fokkelman, Major Poems of the Hebrew Bible: At the Interface of Prosody and Structural Analysis, Vol. 2 (Assen: Van Gorcum, 2000), 63-64
↑ Fokkelman, Major Poems, 62-63.
↑ Revell, E J. 1981. “Pausal Forms and the Structure of Biblical Poetry.” Vetus Testamentum 31 (2): 186–99.
↑ Fokkelman, Major Poems, 63.
↑ Fokkelman, Major Poems, 63.
↑ Ernst Wendland, Expository Outlines of the Psalms, https://www.academia.edu/37220700/Expository_Outlines_of_the_PSALMS

[1] IBHS, 7.4.2.

[2] J.P. Fokkelman, Major Poems of the Hebrew Bible: At the Interface of Prosody and Structural Analysis, Vol. 2 (Assen: Van Gorcum, 2000), 63.

[3] BHRG, 24.2.2

[4] BHRG, 24.4.4.

[5] Ray Pritz, The Works of Their Hands: Man-made things in the Bible (New York: UBS), 102.

[6] William Brown, Seeing the Psalms: A Theology of Metaphor (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), 199.

[7] Leland Ryken, James Wilhoit, and Tremper Longman III, eds., "Inner, Inside, Within," in Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (Downers Grove: IVP, 1998), 424.

[8] John Eaton, Kingship and the Psalms (London: SCM Press, 1976), 65.

[9] Phil J. Botha, “Psalm 5 and the Polarity between Those Who May Stand before Yahweh and Those Who May Not,” Hervormde Teologiese Studies 74, no. 1 (2018): 1–7.

[10] Phil J. Botha, “Psalm 5 and the Polarity between Those Who May Stand before Yahweh and Those Who May Not,” Hervormde Teologiese Studies 74, no. 1 (2018): 1–7.

[11] J.P. Fokkelman, Major Poems of the Hebrew Bible: At the Interface of Prosody and Structural Analysis, Vol. 2 (Assen: Van Gorcum, 2000), 390.

[12] Fokkelman, Major Poems, 390.

[13] Fokkelman, Major Poems, 65.

[14] Nicholas Lunn, Word-Order Variation in Biblical Hebrew Poetry: Differentiating Pragmatics and Poetics (Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2006).

[15] Fokkelman, Major Poems, 64-65.

[16] GKC, 70b.

[17] J.P. Fokkelman, Major Poems of the Hebrew Bible: At the Interface of Prosody and Structural Analysis, Vol. 2 (Assen: Van Gorcum, 2000), 63-64

[18] Fokkelman, Major Poems, 62-63.

[19] Revell, E J. 1981. “Pausal Forms and the Structure of Biblical Poetry.” Vetus Testamentum 31 (2): 186–99.

[20] Fokkelman, Major Poems, 63.

[21] Fokkelman, Major Poems, 63.

[22] Ernst Wendland, Expository Outlines of the Psalms, https://www.academia.edu/37220700/Expository_Outlines_of_the_PSALMS

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

Ref	Syllables	Words	Stress Units
2a	8	3	3
2b	5	2	2
3a	12	5	5
3b	7	3	2
4a	7	4	4
4b	9	4	3
5a	8	6	4
5b	5	3	3
6a	13	5	4
6b	8	4	3
7a	8	3	3
7b	11	5	4
8a	13	5	5
8b	14	5	3
9a	15	5	5
9b	8	3	3
10a	8	3	3
10b	4	2	2
10c	6	3	2
10d	6	2	2
11a	6	2	2
11b	9	2	2
11c	9	3	3
11d	4	3	2
12a	8	4	3
12b	7	2	2
12c	6	2	2
12d	12	4	4
13a	10	5	4
13b	9	3	3

Ref	Syllables	Words	Stress Units
2a	8	3	3
2b	5	2	2
3a	12	5	5
3b	7	3	2
4a	7	4	4
4b	9	4	3
5a	8	6	4
5b	5	3	3
6a	13	5	4
6b	8	4	3
7a	8	3	3
7b	11	5	4
8a	13	5	5
8b	14	5	3
9a	15	5	5
9b	8	3	3
10a	8	3	3
10b	4	2	2
10c	6	3	2
10d	6	2	2
11a	6	2	2
11b	9	2	2
11c	9	3	3
11d	4	3	2
12a	8	4	3
12b	7	2	2
12c	6	2	2
12d	12	4	4
13a	10	5	4
13b	9	3	3

Psalm 5/Full

Hebrew (BHS)[ ]

Greek (Rahlfs-Hanhart LXX)

Phonology[ ]

Vowels

Consonants

Sound combinations

Similar sounds in adjacent lines

Other observations

Lexical Semantics[ ]

References to God

Tetragrammaton

Repeated words

Semantically/thematically related words

Rare words

Verbs[ ]

Verb forms

Person, gender and number

Paragogic letters

Verb stem types (binyanim)

Other

Nouns[ ]

Number

Gender

Definiteness

Pronominal suffixes

Suffixes as objects

Addressee change

Speaker change

Subject change

Particles[ ]

Negative markers

Independent personal pronouns

Prepositions

Waw/Vav

Other particles

Content vs non-content

Figurative[ ]

Metaphor

Simile

Metonymy

Personification

Anthropomorphism

Context[ ]

Figures of Speech

Historical background

Reference/allusions

Alluded to in NT

Other

Mathematical[ ]

Fokkelman's prosody and syllable counts

Alternative prosody and syllable counts

Cola distribution

Selah

Chiasms

Lunn on Word order

Middle word (maqqef)

Middle word (independent lexemes)

Middle line

Variants[ ]

Kinds of variants

Likely solutions

Summary[ ]

Line divisions

Section divisions

Communicative function

Main message

Large-scale structures

Outline or visual representation

Authorship[ ]

Genre[ ]

References[ ]

Ref	Syllables	Words	Stress Units
2a	8	3	3
2b	5	2	2
3a	12	5	5
3b	7	3	2
4a	7	4	4
4b	9	4	3
5a	8	6	4
5b	5	3	3
6a	13	5	4
6b	8	4	3
7a	8	3	3
7b	11	5	4
8a	13	5	5
8b	14	5	3
9a	15	5	5
9b	8	3	3
10a	8	3	3
10b	4	2	2
10c	6	3	2
10d	6	2	2
11a	6	2	2
11b	9	2	2
11c	9	3	3
11d	4	3	2
12a	8	4	3
12b	7	2	2
12c	6	2	2
12d	12	4	4
13a	10	5	4
13b	9	3	3