Psalm 5 → 91
Reasoning: 9664 Output: 5101 Total: 14765
Argument
Short answer: Psalm 91 reads like the divine and priestly answer to the plea of Psalm 5. Psalm 5 is a morning, temple-based petition: “hear me, lead me, shield me from the wicked.” Psalm 91 answers: “Because you have made YHWH your refuge, you will be sheltered, guarded, and answered; you will see the downfall of the wicked.” The connection is reinforced by rare shared vocabulary, identical or near-identical forms, repeated motifs, and a natural life-setting sequence (morning prayer → protection through the day and night). Details 1) Form and voice: petition then oracle of assurance - Psalm 5 is an individual lament/petition (esp. vv. 2–4, 9–11), ending with a generalized blessing for the righteous (vv. 12–13). - Psalm 91 is a psalm of trust/oracle of salvation: - v. 2: the worshiper’s confession (“I will say to YHWH, my refuge…”). - vv. 3–13: a minister/chorus addresses the petitioner in the 2nd person (“He will deliver you… he will command his angels concerning you…”). - vv. 14–16: YHWH speaks directly, promising response and rescue (“He will call me, and I will answer him…”). - Logical flow: the petitioner of Psalm 5 (“hear my voice… lead me… protect me”) is answered in Psalm 91 (“I will answer him… I will protect him… his foot will not strike a stone”). 2) Time-of-day sequence (life setting) - Psalm 5 is a morning prayer at/for the temple service: “YHWH, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I arrange [the sacrifice?] for you and watch” (5:4; אֶעֱרָךְ can be sacrificial). - Psalm 91 covers the entire cycle afterward: “You will not fear the terror of the night… the arrow that flies by day… the pestilence that stalks in darkness… the destruction at noon” (91:5–6). It culminates in lodging (91:1 יתלונן “will lodge”) and long life (91:16). - So Psalm 91 functions as a day-and-night protection oracle that follows a morning petition. 3) Shared and rare vocabulary/root links (rarer and identical forms weighted) - הַוּוֹת “destructions/ruin” (rare): - Ps 5:10 קִרְבָּם הַוּוֹת “their inward parts are ruin.” - Ps 91:3 מִדֶּבֶר הַוּוֹת “from the pestilence of ruin.” Identical, rare plural; strong link. - סכך “cover” (same stem, very close forms): - Ps 5:12 וְתָסֵךְ עָלֵימוֹ “you will cover over them.” - Ps 91:4 יָסֶךְ לָךְ “he will cover you.” - צִנָּה “shield” (identical noun): - Ps 5:13 כַּצִּנָּה רָצוֹן תַּעְטְרֶנּוּ “you surround him with favor like a shield.” - Ps 91:4 צִנָּה וְסֹחֵרָה אֲמִתּוֹ “his truth is a shield and buckler.” - חסה/מחסה “take refuge/refuge” (very frequent in the Psalms, but here in multiple matching forms): - Ps 5:12 וְיִשְׂמְחוּ כָל־חֽוֹסֵי בָךְ “let all who take refuge in you rejoice.” - Ps 91:2 מַחְסִי “my refuge”; 91:4 תֶּחְסֶה “you will take refuge”; 91:9 יְהוָה מַחְסִי. - שֵׁם “name”: - Ps 5:12 אֹהֲבֵי שְׁמֶךָ “those who love your name.” - Ps 91:14 כִּי־יָדַע שְׁמִי “because he knows my name.” - דֶּרֶךְ “way(s)”: - Ps 5:9 הַיְשַׁר לְפָנַי דַּרְכֶּךָ “make your way straight before me.” - Ps 91:11 לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְכָל־דְּרָכֶיךָ “to guard you in all your ways.” - ענה “answer” responding to the hearing petitions: - Ps 5:2–4 “give ear… listen… you hear my voice.” - Ps 91:15 וְאֶעֱנֵהוּ “I will answer him.” - רַע/רָעָה and proximity verbs: - Ps 5:5 לֹא יְגֻרְךָ רָע “evil will not sojourn with you.” - Ps 91:10 לֹא־תְאֻנֶּה אֵלֶיךָ רָעָה “no evil shall befall you”; וְנֶגַע לֹא־יִקְרַב בְּאָהֳלֶךָ “plague will not come near your tent.” Note the mirrored idea: what cannot dwell near God (Ps 5) will not come near the one who dwells in God (Ps 91). - “Eyes” and “fall”: - Ps 5:6 לְנֶגֶד עֵינֶיךָ “before your eyes”; 5:11 יִפְּלוּ “let them fall.” - Ps 91:7 יִפֹּל “a thousand will fall”; 91:8 בְּעֵינֶיךָ תַבִּיט “with your eyes you will look.” - House/tent/dwelling cluster: - Ps 5:8 אָבוֹא בֵיתֶךָ… הֵיכַל־קָדְשֶׁךָ. - Ps 91:1 בְּסֵתֶר עֶלְיוֹן… בְּצֵל שַׁדַּי יִתְלוֹנָן; 91:9 שַׂמְתָּ מְעוֹנֶךָ; 91:10 בְּאָהֳלֶךָ. The petitioner who “comes to God’s house” (Ps 5) is said to “make the Most High his dwelling,” so “plague will not come near your tent” (Ps 91). - Truth vs. deceit: - Ps 5:7 תְּאַבֵּד דֹּבְרֵי כָזָב… אִישׁ דָּמִים וּמִרְמָה. - Ps 91:4 אֲמִתּוֹ “his truth” is the protective shield—an answering antithesis to deceit. 4) Motif-continuity and development - Covering and surrounding: - Ps 5 ends with protection imagery: covering (וְתָסֵךְ), surrounding with favor like a shield (כַּצִּנָּה… תַּעְטְרֶנּוּ). - Ps 91 opens out that same imagery: under wings, covered (יָסֶךְ), shield and rampart (צִנָּה וְסֹחֵרָה), angelic guardians bearing on palms. - Petition for justice vs. promised sight of justice: - Ps 5 asks God to condemn the wicked (5:6–7, 10–11). - Ps 91 promises the petitioner will witness the recompense of the wicked (91:8). - Guidance vs. guarded paths: - Ps 5:9 “make your way straight before me.” - Ps 91:11 “to guard you in all your ways”—the petition is answered as preservation along the way. - Reverent fear vs. freedom from fear: - Ps 5:8 “I bow… in your fear.” - Ps 91:5 “You shall not fear the terror of the night”—the right fear of God displaces fear of danger. 5) Plausible ancient setting that links them - Temple liturgy: The worshiper brings a morning prayer and perhaps an offering (Ps 5:4), is led morally (5:9), and seeks protection from human enemies (5:6–11). In response, a priestly/prophetic oracle of protection is pronounced (Ps 91:3–13), climaxing with YHWH’s own speech (91:14–16). Psalm 91 is widely attested as a protection text; its dialogic form fits a temple assurance rite. - Travel/military day: After the morning service (Ps 5), the worshiper faces the hazards of travel or battle (arrows by day, stumbling on stones, beasts, pestilence; Ps 91). Angelic protection and safe footing (91:11–12) answer the earlier plea to make the path straight (5:9). 6) Summary claim - Despite being far apart in the canonical order, Psalm 91 follows Psalm 5 logically and liturgically: - The petitioner (Ps 5) calls; God promises to answer (Ps 91:15). - Those who take refuge (Ps 5:12) become those who “make YHWH my refuge” (Ps 91:2, 9). - The closing shield-and-cover blessing of Psalm 5 (5:12–13) is elaborated in Psalm 91 into a full protection oracle, using the same or rarer, more distinctive lexemes (הַוּוֹת; סכך; צִנָּה), the same motifs (house/tent/dwelling; way/path; eyes; evil’s nearness), and an expected daily-life sequence (morning prayer → day/night protection).
Evaluation
Score: 7.5
Evaluated at: 2025-11-16T03:51:18 (UTC)
Evaluator model: gpt-5
Evaluator version: v2
Reasoning: 4672 Output: 5963 Total: 10635
Checklist
- Has verse refs: Yes
- Factual error detected: No
- Only generic motifs: No
- Counterargument considered: Yes
- LXX/MT numbering acknowledged: No
Vocabulary specificity: 6.0 / 10
Strong: rare הַוּוֹת (5:10;91:3), סכך (5:12;91:4), צנה (5:13;91:4); mirrored ‘near/sojourn’ evil (5:5;91:10); morning→day/night (5:4;91:5–6); oracle answer (91:15). Counter: many motifs common; הַוּוֹת elsewhere.
Prompt
Consider Psalm 5 and Psalm 91 (reproduced below). What arguments could you make to justify that Psalm 91 logically follows on from Psalm 5? Consider stylistic similarities, similarities of form, similarities of vocab or ideas, shared roots (if you're doing the search in Hebrew), connections to sequences of events common in ancient Israelite life, mythology or history shared by the two psalms.
Rarer words are more significant than commoner words. Identical forms are more significant than similar forms. The same word class is more significant than different word classes formed from the same root. Identical roots are more significant than suppletive roots.
Psalm 5:
Psalm 5
1. לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ
אֶֽל־
הַנְּחִיל֗וֹת
מִזְמ֥וֹר
לְדָוִֽד׃
2. אֲמָרַ֖י
הַאֲזִ֥ינָה ׀
יְהוָ֗ה
בִּ֣ינָה
הֲגִֽיגִי׃
3. הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה ׀
לְק֬וֹל
שַׁוְעִ֗י
מַלְכִּ֥י
וֵאלֹהָ֑י
כִּֽי־
אֵ֝לֶ֗יךָ
אֶתְפַּלָּֽל׃
4. יְֽהוָ֗ה
בֹּ֭קֶר
תִּשְׁמַ֣ע
קוֹלִ֑י
בֹּ֥קֶר
אֶֽעֱרָךְ־
לְ֝ךָ֗
וַאֲצַפֶּֽה׃
5. כִּ֤י ׀
לֹ֤א
אֵֽל־
חָפֵ֘ץ
רֶ֥שַׁע ׀
אָ֑תָּה
לֹ֖א
יְגֻרְךָ֣
רָֽע׃
6. לֹֽא־
יִתְיַצְּב֣וּ
הֽ֭וֹלְלִים
לְנֶ֣גֶד
עֵינֶ֑יךָ
שָׂ֝נֵ֗אתָ
כָּל־
פֹּ֥עֲלֵי
אָֽוֶן׃
7. תְּאַבֵּד֮
דֹּבְרֵ֢י
כָ֫זָ֥ב
אִישׁ־
דָּמִ֥ים
וּמִרְמָ֗ה
יְתָ֘עֵ֥ב ׀
יְהוָֽה׃
8. וַאֲנִ֗י
בְּרֹ֣ב
חַ֭סְדְּךָ
אָב֣וֹא
בֵיתֶ֑ךָ
אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה
אֶל־
הֵֽיכַל־
קָ֝דְשְׁךָ֗
בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ׃
9. יְהוָ֤ה ׀
נְחֵ֬נִי
בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ
לְמַ֥עַן
שׁוֹרְרָ֑י
הושר
הַיְשַׁ֖ר
לְפָנַ֣י
דַּרְכֶּֽךָ׃
10. כִּ֤י
אֵ֪ין
בְּפִ֡יהוּ
נְכוֹנָה֮
קִרְבָּ֢ם
הַ֫וּ֥וֹת
קֶֽבֶר־
פָּת֥וּחַ
גְּרוֹנָ֑ם
לְ֝שׁוֹנָ֗ם
יַחֲלִֽיקוּן׃
11. הַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֨ם ׀
אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים
יִפְּלוּ֮
מִֽמֹּעֲצ֢וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם
בְּרֹ֣ב
פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם
הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ
כִּי־
מָ֥רוּ
בָֽךְ׃
12. וְיִשְׂמְח֨וּ
כָל־
ח֪וֹסֵי
בָ֡ךְ
לְעוֹלָ֣ם
יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ
וְתָסֵ֣ךְ
עָלֵ֑ימוֹ
וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ
בְ֝ךָ֗
אֹהֲבֵ֥י
שְׁמֶֽךָ׃
13. כִּֽי־
אַתָּה֮
תְּבָרֵ֢ךְ
צַ֫דִּ֥יק
יְהוָ֑ה
כַּ֝צִּנָּ֗ה
רָצ֥וֹן
תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ׃
Psalm 91:
Psalm 91
1. יֹ֭שֵׁב
בְּסֵ֣תֶר
עֶלְי֑וֹן
בְּצֵ֥ל
שַׁ֝דַּ֗י
יִתְלוֹנָֽן׃
2. אֹמַ֗ר
לַֽ֭יהוָה
מַחְסִ֣י
וּמְצוּדָתִ֑י
אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י
אֶבְטַח־
בּֽוֹ׃
3. כִּ֤י
ה֣וּא
יַ֭צִּֽילְךָ
מִפַּ֥ח
יָק֗וּשׁ
מִדֶּ֥בֶר
הַוּֽוֹת׃
4. בְּאֶבְרָת֨וֹ ׀
יָ֣סֶךְ
לָ֭ךְ
וְתַֽחַת־
כְּנָפָ֣יו
תֶּחְסֶ֑ה
צִנָּ֖ה
וְֽסֹחֵרָ֣ה
אֲמִתּֽוֹ׃
5. לֹא־
תִ֭ירָא
מִפַּ֣חַד
לָ֑יְלָה
מֵ֝חֵ֗ץ
יָע֥וּף
יוֹמָֽם׃
6. מִ֭דֶּבֶר
בָּאֹ֣פֶל
יַהֲלֹ֑ךְ
מִ֝קֶּ֗טֶב
יָשׁ֥וּד
צָהֳרָֽיִם׃
7. יִפֹּ֤ל
מִצִּדְּךָ֨ ׀
אֶ֗לֶף
וּרְבָבָ֥ה
מִימִינֶ֑ךָ
אֵ֝לֶ֗יךָ
לֹ֣א
יִגָּֽשׁ׃
8. רַ֭ק
בְּעֵינֶ֣יךָ
תַבִּ֑יט
וְשִׁלֻּמַ֖ת
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
תִּרְאֶֽה׃
9. כִּֽי־
אַתָּ֣ה
יְהוָ֣ה
מַחְסִ֑י
עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן
שַׂ֣מְתָּ
מְעוֹנֶֽךָ׃
10. לֹֽא־
תְאֻנֶּ֣ה
אֵלֶ֣יךָ
רָעָ֑ה
וְ֝נֶ֗גַע
לֹא־
יִקְרַ֥ב
בְּאָהֳלֶֽךָ׃
11. כִּ֣י
מַ֭לְאָכָיו
יְצַוֶּה־
לָּ֑ךְ
לִ֝שְׁמָרְךָ֗
בְּכָל־
דְּרָכֶֽיךָ׃
12. עַל־
כַּפַּ֥יִם
יִשָּׂא֑וּנְךָ
פֶּן־
תִּגֹּ֖ף
בָּאֶ֣בֶן
רַגְלֶֽךָ׃
13. עַל־
שַׁ֣חַל
וָפֶ֣תֶן
תִּדְרֹ֑ךְ
תִּרְמֹ֖ס
כְּפִ֣יר
וְתַנִּֽין׃
14. כִּ֤י
בִ֣י
חָ֭שַׁק
וַאֲפַלְּטֵ֑הוּ
אֲ֝שַׂגְּבֵ֗הוּ
כִּֽי־
יָדַ֥ע
שְׁמִֽי׃
15. יִקְרָאֵ֨נִי ׀
וְֽאֶעֱנֵ֗הוּ
עִמּֽוֹ־
אָנֹכִ֥י
בְצָרָ֑ה
אֲ֝חַלְּצֵ֗הוּ
וַֽאֲכַבְּדֵֽהוּ׃
16. אֹ֣רֶךְ
יָ֭מִים
אַשְׂבִּיעֵ֑הוּ
וְ֝אַרְאֵ֗הוּ
בִּֽישׁוּעָתִֽי׃