Psalms 131 · Verse 1

Psalms 131:1

A Song of degrees of David. Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
Psalms 131:1, King James Version

Psalms 131:1 in other translations

BSBA song of ascents. Of David. My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me.
WEBA Song of Ascents. By David. LORD, my heart isn’t arrogant, nor my eyes lofty; nor do I concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me.
ASVA Song of Ascents; of David. Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, Or in things too wonderful for me.
YLTA Song of the Ascents, by David. Jehovah, my heart hath not been haughty, Nor have mine eyes been high, Nor have I walked in great things, And in things too wonderful for me.
DARBYA Song of degrees. Of David. Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, and in things too wonderful for me.
BBELord, there is no pride in my heart and my eyes are not lifted up; and I have not taken part in great undertakings, or in things over-hard for me.
WebsterA Song of degrees of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

What does Psalms 131:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Psa 131:1-3. This Psalm, while expressive of David's pious feelings on assuming the royal office, teaches the humble, submissive temper of a true child of God.

1. eyes lofty--a sign of pride (Psa 18:27). exercise myself--literally, "walk in," or "meddle with."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The psalmist professes his humility, and the peaceableness of his disposition and conduct, Psa 131:1, Psa 131:2. Exhorts Israel to hope in God, Psa 131:3. Some think that David composed this Psalm as a vindication of himself, when accused by Saul's courtiers that he affected the crown, and was laying schemes and plots to possess himself of it. Others think the Psalm was made during the captivity, and that it contains a fair account of the manner in which the captives behaved themselves, under the domination of their oppressors. Verse 1 Lord, my heart is not haughty - The principle of pride has no place in my heart; and consequently the high, lofty, and supercilious look does not appear in my eyes. I neither look up, with desire to obtain, to the state of others, nor look down with contempt to the meanness or poverty of those below me. And the whole of my conduct proves this; for I have not exercised myself - walked, in high matters, nor associated myself with the higher ranks of the community, nor in great matters, נפלאות niphlaoth, wonderful or sublime things; too high for me, ממני mimmeni, alien from me, and that do not belong to a person in my sphere and situation in life.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The psalmist's humility. Believers encouraged to trust in God. --The psalmist aimed at nothing high or great, but to be content in every condition God allotted. Humble saints cannot think so well of themselves as others think of them. The love of God reigning in the heart, will subdue self-love. Where there is a proud heart, there is commonly a proud look. To know God and our duty, is learning sufficiently high for us. It is our wisdom not to meddle with that which does not belong to us. He was well reconciled to every condition the Lord placed him in. He had been as humble as a little child about the age of weaning, and as far from aiming at high things; as entirely at God's disposal, as the child at the disposal of the mother or nurse. We must become as little children, Mt 18:3. Our hearts are desirous of worldly things, cry for them, and are fond of them; but, by the grace of God, a soul that is made holy, is weaned from these things. The child is cross and fretful while in the weaning; but in a day or two it cares no longer for milk, and it can bear stronger food. Thus does a converted soul quiet itself under the loss of what it loved, and disappointments in what it hoped for, and is easy whatever happens. When our condition is not to our mind, we must bring our mind to our condition; then we are easy to ourselves and all about us; then our souls are as a weaned child. And thus the psalmist recommends confidence in God, to all the Israel of God, from his own experience. It is good to hope, and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord under every trial.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 131:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יְהוָ֤ה\׀Yah.wehO YahwehH3068
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
גָבַ֣הּga.Vahit has been loftyH1361
לִ֭בִּיLi.biheart myH3820
וְלֹא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
רָמ֣וּra.Muthey have been upliftedH7311
עֵינַ֑י'ei.Naieyes myH5869
וְלֹֽא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
הִלַּ֓כְתִּי\׀hi.Lakh.tiI have walkedH1980
בִּגְדֹל֖וֹתbig.do.Lotin [things too] greatH1419
וּבְנִפְלָא֣וֹתu.ve.nif.la.'otand in [things too] difficultH6381
מִמֶּֽנִּי\׃mi.Me.nifor meH4480

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 131:1

  • Romans 12:16

    Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

  • Psalms 139:6

    Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

  • Job 42:3

    Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

  • Matthew 11:29

    Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

  • Psalms 101:5

    Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

  • Jeremiah 45:5

    And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:6-7

    Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

  • Psalms 122:1

    A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.

  • Numbers 12:3

    (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

  • Amos 7:14-15

    Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

  • Deuteronomy 17:20

    That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

  • 1 Samuel 16:13

    Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 David, professing his humility,
3 exhorts Israel to trust in God.

(Title.) A Song of degrees.Some think that this Psalm was composed by David when accused by Saul and his courtiers that he affected the crown; though others refer it to the time of the captivity; and consider it as containing a fair account of the manner in which the captives behaved themselves.
122:1; 124:1; 133:1; *titles
my heart.
Nu 12:3; De 17:20; 1Sa 16:13,18,22; 17:15,28,29; 18:23; Mt 11:29
Ac 20:19; 1Th 2:6,7,10
neither.
78:70-72; Jer 17:16; 45:5; Am 7:14,15; Ro 12:16
exercise. Heb. walk. high for me. Heb. wonderful for me.
139:6; Job 42:3; Ro 11:33

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 131:1

    A Song of degrees of David. Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

  • Psalms 131:2

    Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.

Read all of Psalms 131

Psalms 131:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Cántico gradual: de David. JEHOVÁ, no se ha envanecido mi corazón, ni mis ojos se enaltecieron; ni anduve en grandezas, ni en cosas para mí demasiado sublimes.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Cantique des degrés. De David. Éternel! mon cœur n’est pas hautain, et mes yeux ne s’élèvent pas; et je n’ai pas marché en des choses trop grandes et trop merveilleuses pour moi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jehova! nicht hoch ist mein Herz, noch tragen sich hoch meine Augen; und ich wandle nicht in Dingen, die zu groß und zu wunderbar für mich sind.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Canticum graduum. Memento, Domine, David, et omnis mansuetudinis ejus: