Diversity of themes often coincides with difference in the character of the poets.  Where the theme is the same, each writer will still pursue his own peculiar method.  If that theme be the vengeance of God on the wicked, the style will naturally be rugged and abrupt.  Yet the ruggedness and abruptness of David will not be that of Hosea or Nahum.  But where both the theme and the character of the poet differ, there the diversity of style becomes very striking.  To illustrate this, take the two following passages: 

DAVID.  NAHUM

GOD’S FAVOR TO THE RIGHTEOUS.  GOD’S VENGEANCE ON THE WICKED

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall The mountains quake at him, and not want.  He maketh me to lie the hills mels, and the hearth is down in green pastures:  he leadeth burned at his presence, yea, the me beside the still waters.  He world, and all that dwell therein. restoreth my soul:  he leadeth me in Who can stand before his the paths of righteousness for his indignation? and who can abide in name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk the fierceness of his anger? his through the valley of the shadow of fury is poured out like fire, and death, I will fear no evil:  for the rocks are thrown down by him. thou art with me; thy rod and thy The Lord is good, a strong hold in staff they comfort me.  Thou the day of trouble; and he knoweth preparest a table before me in the them that trust in him.  But with presence of mine enemies:  thou an overrunning flood he will make anointest my head with oil; my cup. an utter end of the place thereof, runneth over.  Surely goodness and and darkness shall pursue his mercy shall follow me all the days enemies.  Nahum 1:5-8 of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.  Psa. 23.

The passage from Nahum is like a pent-up mountain stream leaping from precipice to precipice.  The psalm is like the same stream escaped to the plain, and winding its way gently and placidly through green meadows and shady groves vocal with the songs of birds.  This subject might be pursued to an indefinite extent.  Suffice it to say that Hebrew poetry has the charm of endless variety, always with graceful adaptation to the nature of the theme.

The oriental imagery in which Hebrew poetry abounds imparts to it a peculiar and striking costume.  Palestine was, in an emphatic sense, the Hebrew poet’s world.  It was the land given by God to his fathers for an everlasting possession; about which all his warm affections clustered; with whose peculiar scenery and climate, employments and associations, all his thoughts and feelings had been blended from childhood.  It followed of necessity that these must all wear an oriental costume.  As soon as he opens his mouth there comes forth a stream of eastern imagery, very natural and appropriate to him, but much of it