38 GreGOrY T.K. WOnG are placed exactly where they are, in spite of the assertions by some that these verses are logically misplaced and should be moved to a different position 65. To provide further proof that the imaginary line that joins v. 13 and vv. 21-22 indeed functions as a secondary horizontal axis, it should be noted that, in line with how an axis normally functions, material on the same side of this axis indeed seems to share similarities, while ma- terial on the opposite side of the axis seems to show contrasts. First, it is important to consider the material found on opposite sides of this axis. At one end of the axis in v. 13, the prosperity of the wicked in vv. 4-12 is contrasted with the affliction of the psalmist in vv. 14-15, both contributing to the psalmist’s regret expressed in the hinge verse that represents that end of the axis. A key term that high- lights the contrast in these sections is [gn (“to afflict”) in v. 5 and v. 14, which is passive in both cases (Pual in v. 5 and qal passive in v. 14). Thus, while in v. 5 the wicked are portrayed as not being afflicted like the rest of humanity, the psalmist, in contrast, is depicted as being afflicted all day (v. 14). As this contrast seems to lie at the heart of the psalmist’s struggle, the recurrence of [gn appears to play a significant role in explaining why the psalmist initially regretted his righteous living. At the other end of the axis in vv. 21-22, the imminent destruction of the wicked (vv. 18-20) is contrasted with the fellowship with God that the psalmist continually enjoys (vv. 23-26). here, although no repetition of key term is found that highlights the contrast, a word-play involving the homonymous roots qlx (“slippery ground”) in v. 18 and qlx (“portion”) in v. 26 may prove significant 66. After all, the contrast between the wicked, who have been placed on slippery grounds, and the psalmist, who has God as his portion, seems, indeed, to lie at 65 While GunKeL, Die Psalmen, 311, 314, 319, suggests moving v. 21 to after v. 15 and v. 22 to after v. 16, BAuMAnn, “struktur- untersuchungen”, 128-129, and BLAnK, “nearness of God”, 70, suggest moving vv. 21-22 as a unit to between v. 15 and v. 16. 66 This is first mentioned by ALLen, “Psalm 73”, 106, and subsequently by BrueGGeMAnn, Message of the Psalms, 120; AuFFreT, “Étude structurelle” 259; COLe, Shape and Message, 25. note that DAhOOD, Psalms II, 192, “hebrew- ugaritic Lexicography II”, Bib 45 (1964) 392-412, here 408, argues from ugaritic that qlx actually means “to perish”, and hence, the related noun in v. 18 means “perdition” rather than “slippery slopes”. This does not affect our analysis, how- ever, as it works equally well if the contrast is between the wicked destined for perdition and the psalmist having God as his portion.