In response to Vincent Gombert’s request for any chiasms in Proverbs 30, here are a couple I came across a while back.

Proverbs 30:14-17:

A (14) There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, TO DEVOUR <0398> the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

B (15) The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things SAY NOT, IT IS ENOUGH:

C (16) The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire

B′ (16) THAT SAITH NOT, IT IS ENOUGH.

A′ (17) The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles SHALL EAT IT <0398>.

Proverbs 30:15-21:

A (15) The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, FOUR things say not, It is enough:

B (16) The grave; and the barren womb; THE EARTH that is not filled with water; and the fire

C (16) THAT SAITH not, It is enough.

D (17) The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young EAGLES shall eat it.

E (18) There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

D′ (19) The way of AN EAGLE in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

C′ (20) Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and SAITH, I have done no wickedness.

B′ (21) For three things THE EARTH is disquieted,

A′ (21) and for FOUR which it cannot bear:

(From Naomi W)

A  (1a)  The wicked flee when no man pursueth:

B  (1b)  but the righteous are bold as a lion.

C  (2)  For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

D  (3)  A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

E  (4-5)  They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

F  (6a)  Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness,

G  (6b)  than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

H  (7)  Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

G’  (8a)  He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance,

F’  (8b)  he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

E’  (9-10)  He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

D’  (11a)  The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor

C’  (11b)  that hath understanding searcheth him out.

B’  (12a)  When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory:

A’  (12b)  but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

A (4) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink WINE;

B (4) nor for princes STRONG DRINK:

C (5) Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

B¹ (6) Give STRONG DRINK unto him that is ready to perish,

A¹ (6,7) and WINE unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

A.(20) Wisdom crieth without;
she uttereth her voice in the streets:
(21) She crieth in the chief place of concourse,
in the openings of the gates:
in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

B.(22) How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?
and the scorners delight in their scorning,
and fools hate knowledge?

C.(23) Turn you at my reproof:
behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you,
I will make known my words unto you.

D.(24) Because I have called, and ye refused;
I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
(25) But ye have set at nought all my counsel,
and would none of my reproof:

E.(26) I also will laugh at your calamity (0343) ;

F. I will mock when your fear cometh;
(27) When your fear cometh as desolation,

E’. and your destruction (0343) cometh as a whirlwind;
when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

D’.(28) Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer;
they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

C’.(29) For that they hated knowledge,
and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
(30) They would none of my counsel:
they despised all my reproof.

B’. (31) Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,
and be filled with their own devices.
(32) For the turning away of the simple shall slay them,
and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

A’.(33) But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely,
and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

A (10) Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

B (11-12) The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

C (looking after her household)

a. (13) She seeketh wool, and flax,
and worketh willingly with her hands.

b. (14) She is like the merchants‘ ships;
she bringeth her food from afar.

c. (15) She riseth also while it is yet night,
and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

d. (16) She considereth a field, and buyeth it:
with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

c’. (17) She girdeth her loins with strength,
and strengtheneth her arms.

b’. (18) She perceiveth that her merchandise is good:
her candle goeth not out by night.

a’. (19) She layeth her hands to the spindle,
and her hands hold the distaff.

D (20) She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;
yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

E (21-22) She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

F (23) Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

E’ (24-25) She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.  Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

D’ (26) She openeth her mouth with wisdom;
and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

C’ (27) She looketh well to the ways of her household,
and eateth not the bread of idleness.

B’ (28-29) Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

A’ (30-31) Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

revised in discussion with Ken

A (1) The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

B (2,3) To know wisdom <02451> and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom <07919>, justice, and judgment, and equity;

C (4) To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

D (5) A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

F (6) To understand a proverb, and the interpretation;

D1 (6) the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

C1 (7) The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge:

B1 (7) but fools despise wisdom <02451> and instruction.

A1 (8,9) My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

PROVERBS 21:2-8

A (2) Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but Yahweh pondereth the hearts.

B (3) To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.

C (4) An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

D (5) The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

C1 (6,7) The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them;

B1 (7) because they refuse to do judgment.

A1 (8) The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

PROVERBS 21:24-22:1
A (24) Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

B (25,26) The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

C (27) The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

D (28) A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

C1 (29,30) A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.

B1 (31) The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of Yahweh.

A1 (1) A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

PROVERBS 23:2-6

A (2) And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite <05315>.

B (3) Be not desirous of his dainties:

C (3) for they are deceitful meat <03899>.

D (4,5) Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
Wilt thou set <05774>  thine eyes upon that which is not?

E (5) for riches certainly make themselves wings;

D1 (5) they fly away <05774>  as an eagle toward heaven.

C1 (6) Eat thou not the bread <03899> of him that hath an evil eye,

B1 (6) neither desire thou his dainty meats:

A1 (7) For as he thinketh in his heart <05315>, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

PROVERBS 23:19-26

A (19-21) Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

B (22) Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

C (23) Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

B (24,25) The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

A1 (26) My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.