Psalms 131:1

Psalms 131:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Lord, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me.

Context of Psalms 131:1

Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me. 2Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child [resting] with his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me [composed and freed from discontent]. 3O Israel, hope in the Lord From this time forth and forever.

Psalms 131:1 word by word

יְהוָ֤ה׀ לֹא־גָבַ֣הּ לִ֭בִּי וְלֹא־רָמ֣וּ עֵינַ֑י וְלֹֽא־הִלַּ֓כְתִּי׀ בִּגְדֹל֖וֹת וּבְנִפְלָא֣וֹת מִמֶּֽנִּי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• my heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• is not haughtyגָּבַהּgâbahh · be highH1361
• nor mine eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• loftyרוּםrûm · to exaltH7311
• neither do I exerciseהָלַךְhâlak · to go: continueH1980
• myself in great mattersגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• or in things too highפָּלָאpâlâ' · to wonderH6381

Cross-references for Psalms 131:1

• Psalms 122:1I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
• Psalms 124:1“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel now say,
• Psalms 133:1Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!
• Numbers 12:3(Now the man Moses was very humble (gentle, kind, devoid of self-righteousness), more than any man who was on the face of the earth.)
• Deuteronomy 17:20so that his heart will not be lifted up above his countrymen [by a false sense of self-importance and self-reliance] and that he will not turn away (deviate) from the commandment, to the right or to the left, so that he and his sons may continue [to reign] for a long time in his kingdom in Israel.
• 1 Samuel 16:13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
• 1 Samuel 17:15but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock at Bethlehem.
• 1 Samuel 18:23So Saul’s servants spoke these words to David. But David said, “Is it a trivial thing in your sight to become a king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and insignificant?”
• Matthew 11:29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls.
• Acts 20:19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials which came on me because of the plots of the Jews [against me];
• 1 Thessalonians 2:6nor did we seek glory and honor from people, neither from you nor from anyone else, though as apostles of Christ we had the power to assert our authority.
• Psalms 78:70He also chose David His servant And took him from the sheepfolds;
• Jeremiah 17:16But as for me, I have not tried to escape from being a shepherd [walking] after You, Nor have I longed for the woeful day [of judgment]; You know that, whatever I said Was [spoken] in Your presence and was from You.
• Jeremiah 45:5And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring disaster on all flesh,’ says the Lord, ‘but I will give your life to you [as your only reward and] as a prize of war wherever you go.’ ”
• Amos 7:14Then Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet [by profession], nor am I a prophet’s son; I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs.
• Romans 12:16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself.

Commentaries on Psalms 131:1

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Lord, my heart is not haughty - Though this is charged upon me; though I may have said things which seem to imply it; though this might appear a just inference from my conduct - yet I am conscious that this is not my real character. What I have said was not the result of ambition. Nor mine eyes lofty - I am conscious that I am not ambitious and aspiring - as I am accused of being. What I have said is not the result of such a feeling, nor should such a…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The heart represents the entire person (see Psalm 27:8). God hates arrogance, which is a foolish way of life (Proverbs 6:16–19). The psalmist does not trouble himself with matters that properly belong to the Lord.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-31. eyes lofty--a sign of pride (Psa 18:27). exercise myself--literally, "walk in," or "meddle with."Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 1my heart was not haughty, etc. I did not behave with superiority. I did not make great things pleasures, buildings, and plantings as my son made. Behold I am with You like one who has no hands or feet, like an incomplete form lying before You.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 131:1

• Humility
• Presumption

In the dictionaries

• Degrees, Song of
• Hallel
• Psalms
• Degree
• Degrees, Songs of
• Dial of Ahaz
• Exercise
• Eye
• Hallelujah
• Hezekiah (2)

Commentaries on Psalms 131

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings