The layout of the data in Seeing the Psalter allows one to explore these relationships and thereby 'see' the central verses. These must of course be subject to additional analysis, but for the most part, observing the recurring roots gives a very good objective first step in the identification process.
In the Psalms session at the beginning of the International SBL on July 8 - i.e. just last week, I listened to a presentation by Izak J.J. Spangenberg of the University of South Africa on Psalm 73. He selected an opening and closing pair of words (אני I, and כי for) as an envelope for the whole psalm. He could safely have added טוב (good) to this frame without losing the circular structure. One ought also to note the emphatic אך (surely) that begins verses 1 and 13. He then highlighted the repeated pair (דבר speak) in verse 8 against the repeated pair (לבב heart) in verse 26, each accompanied by an occurrence of שׁמים (heavens).
I questioned this selection of words and patterns since it is subjective to suppress selected words themselves once they have been identified as keywords. Heart is much more significant in this psalm than the two occurrences in verse 26. It occurs 6 times in this spelling with the double-bet. And if it is a keyword once in the psalm, one must look at all its occurrences. The 6 divide 3 and 3 around the pivotal verse 15. This is therefore the central verse of Psalm 73. It is also an emotional pivot. I note as well that the recurring root heart, spelled with a double-bet, is used for the first time as a keyword in the Psalter in this psalm.
Psalm 73 begins Book 3 of the Psalter. With Book 2, Book 3 emphasizes the experience of the exile. Faithfulness at the level of the heart is the critical role of Psalm 73. It is a word spoken in the midst of great trouble, not different from our own times.
Here is the Psalm with the whole table of recurring roots. Note the three words - good, I and for and their usage in reverse order at the end of the psalm. As I wrote in the book, take note also of how many body parts are mentioned in the Psalm. It's a good exercise. Do it. I don't tell you the answers in the book, I just lay out the data so that the many patterns can be more easily explored.
מִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף
אַךְ טוֹב לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֱלֹהִים לְבָרֵי לֵבָב | 1 | A psalm of Asaph Surely God is good to Israel, to the pure in heart |
וַאֲנִי כִּמְעַט נָטָיוּ רַגְלָי
כְּאַיִן שֻׁפְּכוּ אֲשֻׁרָי | 2 | but I myself, my feet bent as if a little as if my steps were not to be poured out |
כִּי קִנֵּאתִי בַּהוֹלְלִים
שְׁלוֹם רְשָׁעִים אֶרְאֶה | 3 | For I was jealous of the boasters peace for the wicked I was seeing |
כִּי אֵין חַרְצֻבּוֹת לְמוֹתָם
וּבָרִיא אוּלָם | 4 | For there are no stings in their death and plenteous is their gut |
בַּעֲמַל אֱנוֹשׁ אֵינֵמוֹ
וְעִם אָדָם לֹא יְנֻגָּעוּ | 5 | In toil a mortal is nothing to them and they are not touched as earthlings |
לָכֵן עֲנָקַתְמוֹ גַאֲוָה
יַעֲטָף שִׁית חָמָס לָמוֹ | 6 | so they are necklaced with pride draped with their cloak of violence |
יָצָא מֵחֵלֶב עֵינֵמוֹ
עָבְרוּ מַשְׂכִּיּוֹת לֵבָב | 7 | Their eyes bulge out They go beyond the heart's imagination |
יָמִיקוּ וִידַבְּרוּ
בְרָע עֹשֶׁק מִמָּרוֹם יְדַבֵּרוּ | 8 | They mock and speak in oppressive evil from on high they speak |
שַׁתּוּ בַשָּׁמַיִם פִּיהֶם
וּלְשׁוֹנָם תִּהֲלַךְ בָּאָרֶץ | 9 | They thrust their mouth in the heavens and their tongue struts in the earth |
לָכֵן יָשׁוּב עַמּוֹ הֲלֹם
וּמֵי מָלֵא יִמָּצוּ לָמוֹ | 10 | "So! his people will return here where they can be fully milked." |
וְאָמְרוּ אֵיכָה יָדַע אֵל
וְיֵשׁ דֵּעָה בְעֶלְיוֹן | 11 | And they say - how will God know? so is there knowledge in the Most High? |
הִנֵּה אֵלֶּה רְשָׁעִים
וְשַׁלְוֵי עוֹלָם הִשְׂגּוּ חָיִל | 12 | Behold, these are wicked, so at ease ever, abounding in wealth |
אַךְ רִיק זִכִּיתִי לְבָבִי
וָאֶרְחַץ בְּנִקָּיוֹן כַּפָּי | 13 | Surely without cause I have cleared my heart and I keep on washing my palms in innocence |
וָאֱהִי נָגוּעַ כָּל הַיּוֹם
וְתוֹכַחְתִּי לַבְּקָרִים | 14 | and I am touched all the day long with my own correction in the morning |
אִם אָמַרְתִּי אֲסַפְּרָה כְמוֹ
הִנֵּה דוֹר בָּנֶיךָ בָגָדְתִּי | 15 | If I had said, This is how I will recount it then, a generation of your children, I would have betrayed |
וָאֲחַשְּׁבָה לָדַעַת זֹאת
עָמָל הוּא בְעֵינָי | 16 | And I reckon that I know this toil it is to my eyes |
עַד אָבוֹא אֶל מִקְדְּשֵׁי אֵל
אָבִינָה לְאַחֲרִיתָם | 17 | When I come to God's sanctuaries I understand their result |
אַךְ בַּחֲלָקוֹת תָּשִׁית לָמוֹ
הִפַּלְתָּם לְמַשּׁוּאוֹת | 18 | Surely in slippery parts you will put them You will make them fall into ruins |
אֵיךְ הָיוּ לְשַׁמָּה כְרָגַע
סָפוּ תַמּוּ מִן בַּלָּהוֹת | 19 | How in a moment they are desolated floundering, filled full from frights |
כַּחֲלוֹם מֵהָקִיץ
אֲדֹנָי בָּעִיר צַלְמָם תִּבְזֶה | 20 | like waking from a dream My Lord, when you are roused you will despise their semblance |
כִּי יִתְחַמֵּץ לְבָבִי
וְכִלְיוֹתַי אֶשְׁתּוֹנָן | 21 | For my heart was embittered and I was sharply taught in my insides |
וַאֲנִי בַעַר וְלֹא אֵדָע
בְּהֵמוֹת הָיִיתִי עִמָּךְ | 22 | I myself was a brute without knowledge behemoth I was with you |
וַאֲנִי תָמִיד עִמָּךְ
אָחַזְתָּ בְּיַד יְמִינִי | 23 | Even so I myself am continually with you You hold fast my right hand |
בַּעֲצָתְךָ תַנְחֵנִי
וְאַחַר כָּבוֹד תִּקָּחֵנִי | 24 | In your counsel you will guide me and after you will take me into glory |
מִי לִי בַשָּׁמָיִם
וְעִמְּךָ לֹא חָפַצְתִּי בָאָרֶץ | 25 | Who is for me in the heavens? and with you have I no delight on earth? |
כָּלָה שְׁאֵרִי וּלְבָבִי
צוּר לְבָבִי וְחֶלְקִי אֱלֹהִים לְעוֹלָם | 26 | My physical power and my heart find their end God is the strength of my heart and my share forever |
כִּי הִנֵּה רְחֵקֶיךָ יֹאבֵדוּ
הִצְמַתָּה כָּל זוֹנֶה מִמֶּךָּ | 27 | For these who are distant from you will perish You will annihilate all who prostitute themselves from you |
וַאֲנִי קִרְבַת אֱלֹהִים לִי טוֹב
שַׁתִּי בַּאדֹנָי יְהוִה מַחְסִי לְסַפֵּר כָּל מַלְאֲכוֹתֶיךָ | 28 | But I myself approach God - to me, good I have set my Lord יְהוָה as my refuge so I will be able to recount all your affairs |
Hebrew words: 193. Percentage of Hebrew words that recur in this psalm: 45%. Average keywords per verse: 3.1.
Selected recurring words
| Word and gloss * first usage | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 30 | Vs | Root |
אך surely
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| 1 | אך | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
טוב is good
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| 1 | טוב | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* לבב heart
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| 1 | לבב | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ואני but I myself
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| 2 | אני | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
כאין as if were not
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| 2 | אין | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
כי for
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| 3 | כי | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
רשׁעים the wicked
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| 3 | רשׁע | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
כי for
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| 4 | כי | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
אין there are no
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| 4 | אין | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
בעמל in toil
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| 5 | עמל | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
אינמו is nothing to them
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| 5 | אין | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ועם and as
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| 5 | עם | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
לא not
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| 5 | לא | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* ינגעו they are touched
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| 5 | נגע | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* לכן so
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| 6 | לכן | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
שׁית cloak of
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| 6 | שׁית | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
למו their
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| 6 | למו | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
עינמו their eyes
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| 7 | עין | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* לבב the heart's
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| 7 | לבב | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
וידברו and speak
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| 8 | דבר | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ידברו they speak
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| 8 | דבר | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
בשׁמים in the heavens
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| 9 | שׁמים | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
בארץ in the earth
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| 9 | ארץ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* לכן So!
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| 10 | לכן | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
עמו his people
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| 10 | עם | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
למו they
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| 10 | למו | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ואמרו and they say
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| 11 | אמר | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* איכה how
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| 11 | איך | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ידע will know
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| 11 | ידע | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
דעה knowledge
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| 11 | ידע | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
הנה Behold
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| 12 | הנה | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
רשׁעים wicked
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| 12 | רשׁע | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
עולם ever
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| 12 | עלם | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
אך surely
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| 13 | אך | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* לבבי my heart
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| 13 | לבב | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ואהי and I am
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| 14 | היה | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* נגוע touched
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| 14 | נגע | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
כל all
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| 14 | כל | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
אמרתי I had said
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| 15 | אמר | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
אספרה I will recount it
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| 15 | ספר | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
הנה then
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| 15 | הנה | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
לדעת that I know
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| 16 | ידע | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
עמל toil
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| 16 | עמל | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
בעיני to my eyes
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| 16 | עין | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
לאחריתם their result
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| 17 | אחר | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
אך surely
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| 18 | אך | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
בחלקות in slippery parts
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| 18 | חלק | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
תשׁית you will put
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| 18 | שׁית | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
למו them
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| 18 | למו | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* איך how
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| 19 | איך | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
היו they are
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| 19 | היה | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
אדני My Lord
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| 20 | אדון | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
כי for
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| 21 | כי | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* לבבי my heart
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| 21 | לבב | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ואני I myself
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| 22 | אני | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ולא without
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| 22 | לא | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
אדע knowledge
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| 22 | ידע | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
הייתי I was
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| 22 | היה | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
עמך with you
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| 22 | עם | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ואני Even so I myself am
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| 23 | אני | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
עמך with you
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| 23 | עם | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ואחר and after
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| 24 | אחר | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
לי for me
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| 25 | לי | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
בשׁמים in the heavens
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| 25 | שׁמים | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ועמך and with you
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| 25 | עם | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
לא no
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| 25 | לא | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
בארץ on earth
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| 25 | ארץ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* ולבבי and my heart
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| 26 | לבב | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* לבבי my heart
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| 26 | לבב | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
וחלקי and my share
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| 26 | חלק | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
לעולם forever
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| 26 | עלם | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
כי for
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| 27 | כי | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
הנה these
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| 27 | הנה | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
כל all
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| 27 | כל | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ואני but ... myself
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| 28 | אני | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
לי to me
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| 28 | לי | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
טוב good
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| 28 | טוב | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
שׁתי I have set as
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| 28 | שׁית | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
באדני my Lord
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| 28 | אדון | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
לספר so I will be able to recount
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| 28 | ספר | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
כל all
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| 28 | כל |
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