Proverbs 6:6-11
The chiastic structure of Proverbs 6:6-11
6:6 Go to
the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
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7 Without having any chief,
officer or ruler, |
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8 she prepares
her food in summer, and gathers
her sustenance in harvest. |
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9 How long
will you lie there, O sluggard? When
will you arise from your sleep? |
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10 A little
sleep, a little slumber, a little
folding of the hands to rest, |
11 and poverty
will come upon you like a
vagabond, and want like an armed man.
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A partial interlinear version (each Hebrew word as a hyphened
group of English words) gives further insight into the chiastic structure.
Here's how it reads:
6:6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider
her ways, and be wise.
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7 Without having any chief,
officer or ruler, |
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8 she-stores in-the-summer provision-of-her
she-gathers at-the-harvest food-of-her
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9 until when? sluggard will-you-lie
when? will-you-get-up from-sleep-of-you |
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10 A little sleep, a little
slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, |
11 and-he-will-come like-one-being-bandit
poverty-of-you and-scarcity-of-you like-man-of armor
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