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, I am not proud. I do not think that I am a great person. I do not try to do great things. I do not worry about things that are too hard for me to understand. 2Instead, I am quiet and there is peace in my mind. I am like a young child who sits on his mother's knee. Yes, I have peace in my mind. 3Israel's people, trust the Lord to help you, now and for ever.

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 122:1It made me very happy when people said to me, ‘We will go to the house of the Lord.’
• Psalms 124:1If the Lord was not fighting for us, what would have happened? Israel's people, now answer:
• Psalms 133:1It is good for a family of God's people to live together in peace. Yes! It brings great pleasure!
• Numbers 12:3Moses was a very humble man. He was the most humble person in the whole world.
• Deuteronomy 17:20If he does that, he will not become proud. He will not think that he is better than other Israelites. He will continue to obey the Lord's commands. Then he and his descendants will rule Israel as kings for many years.
• 1 Samuel 16:13Samuel took the horn that was full of olive oil. He poured the oil over David's head to anoint him. Samuel did this in front of David's brothers. From that moment, the Spirit of the Lord came on David with great power. Then Samuel returned to his home in Ramah.
• 1 Samuel 17:15David would sometimes leave Saul and go back home to Bethlehem. He did that to take care of his father's sheep.
• 1 Samuel 18:23Saul's servants said this to David. But David replied, ‘It is a great honour for someone to marry the king's daughter. But I am poor. I am not important enough.’
• Matthew 11:29Do what I teach you to do. Listen to my message and learn from me what is true. I am very kind and I do not make myself important. I will help you. Then you will have peace in your mind.
• Acts 20:19I did not say that I was an important man. Instead, I worked as a servant of the Lord Jesus. I often was sad because of trouble that came to me. Some Jewish people spoke against my message. They wanted to hurt me.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:6We did not want anyone to say that we are great people. We did not want you to do that, or anyone else.
• Psalms 78:70Also, he chose his servant, David. He took David away from the fields,
• Jeremiah 17:16Lord, I have not stopped taking care of your people. I have never asked you to destroy them on one final day. You know that, and you know everything that I have said.
• Jeremiah 45:5If you want to become famous and important, do not hope for that to happen. I will send great trouble to all the people on the earth. But I promise that I will keep your life safe, wherever you go.” That is what the Lord says.’
• Amos 7:14Then Amos answered Amaziah, ‘My job was not as a prophet. My father never did that work. My job was to work as a shepherd. I also took care of fig trees.
• Romans 12:16Always try to agree and to be friends with each other. Do not be proud. Be friends with people who are not important. Do not think that you know everything.

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