Psalm 73 as Ring Composition The structure of Psalm 73 is nothing if not hard to pin down. In his 1982 article, Allen cites no fewer than fifteen structural analyses 1. In the thirty-some years since, there have been at least a further dozen new proposals 2. Given this seemingly endless multiplication of analy- ses without there being any consensus, the addition of yet another pro- posal may seem pointless. Yet it is precisely because so many have already devoted so much effort that one must continue pushing for- ward, for as insight increases so does the possibility of a breakthrough. At the outset, I must express my indebtedness to those whose efforts have preceded mine, for as will become apparent, their insights have helped clarify my own. Yet in the following analysis, I wish to distinguish my approach from theirs in four ways. 1 L.C. ALLen, “Psalm 73: An Analysis”, TB 33 (1982) 93-107. 2 These include: e.A. MArTens, “Psalm 73: A Corrective to a Modern Mis- understanding”, Direction 12 (1983) 18-19; C. sTuhLMueLLer, Psalms 73–150 (OTM 22; Wilmington, De 1983) 11-13; W. BrueGGeMAnn, The Message of the Psalms. A Theological Commentary (Minneapolis, Mn 1984) 115-121; J.L. Cren- shAW, “standing near the Flame: Psalm 73”, A Whirlpool of Torment. Israelite Tra- ditions of God as an Oppressive Presence (OBT 12; Philadelphia, PA 1984) 93-109; J. KrAšOveC, Antithetic Structure in Biblical Hebrew Poetry (vTs 35; Leiden 1984) 38-59; J.C. MCCAnn Jr., “Psalm 73: A Microcosm of Old Testament Theology”, The Listening Heart. essays in Wisdom and the Psalms in honor of roland e. Murphy, O. Carm. (eds. K.G. hOGLunD et al.) (JsOTss 58; sheffield 1985) 249-251; r.J. CLIFFOrD, Psalms 73–150 (Collegeville, Mn 1986) 16-17; M.e. TATe, Psalms 51–100 (WBC; Dallas, TX 1990) 232-234; M. GIrArD, Les Psaumes redécouverts. De la structure au sens (saint-Laurent 1994) 282-294; P. AuFFreT, “et moi sans cesse avec toi: Étude structurelle du Psaume 73”, SJOT 9 (1995) 241-276; M.D. GOuLDer, The Psalms of Asaph and the Pentateuch. studies in the Psalter, III (JsOTss 233; sheffield 1996) 52-61; r.L. COLe, The Shape and Message of Book III (Psalms 73–89) (JsOTss 307; sheffield 2000) 15-25; M. WITTe, “Auf dem Weg ein Leben nach dem Tod”, TZ 58 (2002) 19-20; s. TerrIen, The Psalms. strophic structure and Theological Commentary. vol. 2: Psalms 73–150 (Grand rapids, MI 2003) 523-532; L. BOADT, “The use of “Panels” in the structure of Psalms 73–78”, CBQ 66 (2004) 538-540; F.-L. hOssFeLD – e. ZenGer, Psalms 2. A Commentary on Psalms 51–100 (trans. L.M. MALOneY) (hermeneia; Minneapolis, Mn 2005) 226; J. KArTJe, Wisdom Epistemology in the Psalter. A study of Psalms 1, 73, 90, and 107 (BZAW 472; Berlin 2014) 99-100. BiBlica 97.1 (2016) 16-40