Psalm 131:1 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.
Psalm 131:1 nkjv
A Song of Ascents. Of David. 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.
Psalm 131:1 niv
A song of ascents. Of David. 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.
Psalm 131:1 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.
Psalm 131:1 nlt
LORD, my heart is not proud;
my eyes are not haughty.
I don't concern myself with matters too great
or too awesome for me to grasp.
Psalm 131 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Warning against pride |
| Prov 29:23 | A man's pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor. | Pride brings low, humility brings honor |
| Isa 2:11 | The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of man shall be humbled... | Haughtiness brought low |
| Jer 49:16 | The terror you inspire has deceived you, and the pride of your heart... | Pride's deception and destruction |
| Obadiah 1:3 | The pride of your heart has deceived you... | Deception by pride |
| Matt 18:3-4 | Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter... | Childlike humility is key to kingdom |
| Mark 10:15 | Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child... | Humility required for kingdom |
| Luke 18:14 | ...For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. | Exaltation through humility |
| Jam 4:6 | But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” | God opposes proud, graces humble |
| Jam 4:10 | Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. | Humility for divine exaltation |
| 1 Pet 5:5-6 | Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility... | Clothe with humility; God exalts humble |
| Rom 12:3 | For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought... | Sober judgment of self, avoid pride |
| Phil 2:3 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Humility over self-interest |
| Psa 62:1 | For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. | Trust and silence before God |
| Isa 55:8-9 | “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." | God's thoughts are beyond ours |
| Job 42:3 | 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand... | Humility about incomprehensible wisdom |
| Deut 29:29 | “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us..." | Secret things belong to God |
| Rom 11:33 | Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments... | God's unsearchable judgments |
| 1 Tim 6:6 | But godliness with contentment is great gain. | Contentment in godliness |
| Phil 4:11-12 | ...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. | Learning contentment |
| Prov 30:8-9 | Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me... | Prayer for contentment and dependence |
| Psa 37:7 | Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him... | Stillness and waiting on God |
Psalm 131 verses
Psalm 131 1 Meaning
Psalm 131:1 encapsulates the Psalmist's confession of profound humility and a tranquil heart rooted in trust in God. It declares a conscious refusal to engage in prideful ambition, to cast haughty looks of self-importance, or to meddle with matters and divine mysteries that are beyond human understanding and proper station. It portrays a deliberate posture of contentment and dependence on the Lord, eschewing the restlessness and striving often associated with pride and intellectual presumption.
Psalm 131 1 Context
Psalm 131 is one of the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), traditionally sung by pilgrims traveling up to Jerusalem for the three annual feasts (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles). This pilgrimage was not just a physical journey but also a spiritual one, intended to purify the heart and focus on God. David, named as the author, portrays a profound personal journey of inner peace achieved through spiritual humility. Coming from a shepherd king, this Psalm offers a potent counter-narrative to typical royal ambition and grandiosity, advocating a humble and trusting heart, free from pride and restless striving for matters beyond one's lot. Its brevity underscores its concise and impactful message of quiet trust. The following verse (Ps 131:2) compares this quiet soul to a weaned child with its mother, deeply illustrating the state of settled dependence that is the outcome of such humility.
Psalm 131 1 Word analysis
O Lord (יהוה YHWH / Adonai): The direct address uses God's covenant name, signifying an intimate, personal relationship built on trust, not a distant awe of an unreachable deity.
my heart (לִבִּי libbî): Refers to the innermost being—the seat of intellect, will, emotion, and character. It encompasses thoughts, intentions, and desires, indicating a deep, internal state.
is not lifted up (גָּבַהּ gāḇāh): Means "to be high," "exalted," or "proud." Here, it describes a heart not inflated by pride, arrogance, or self-importance. It is the opposite of an arrogant spirit.
my eyes (עֵינַי ʿênay): Represents one's perception, focus, and outward expression. Eyes are often indicative of a person's inner disposition.
are not raised too high (רָמוּ rāmū): From "רום rūm," meaning "to be high," "lifted up," or "exalted." Specifically for eyes, it conveys haughtiness, an arrogant gaze, or a scornful look directed at others.
I do not occupy myself (וְלֹֽא־הִתְהַלַּכְתִּ֤י v'lo-hithhallaktî): From "הָלַךְ halak" (to walk) in the Hithpael stem, meaning "to walk oneself," "to habitually go about," or "to involve oneself/meddle." It describes a conscious avoidance of habitually engaging with or striving for certain things.
with things too great (בִּגְדֹלוֹת biḡ'dōlōwt): "Great things" or "great matters." These are matters beyond one's sphere, perhaps aspirations of power, fame, or an undue concern with the affairs of others or of God Himself.
and too marvelous (וּבְנִפְלָא֨וֹת uḇ'niplā'ōwt): From "פָּלָא pālā'" (to be wonderful, extraordinary). It refers to things that are wondrous, incomprehensible, or miraculous. Here, it implies not striving to penetrate divine mysteries or the incomprehensible works and ways of God.
for me (מִמֶּֽנִּי mimmennî): The prepositional phrase indicating "from me" or "beyond me/my reach." These things are simply too vast or profound for human comprehension or intervention.
"My heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high": This pair speaks to inner attitude (heart) and outer expression (eyes), capturing the essence of humility – freedom from internal pride and external arrogance. It’s a holistic declaration of modesty.
"I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me": This phrase elaborates on the practical manifestation of such humility. It’s not just an absence of pride, but an active discipline of staying within one’s bounds, not seeking to grasp divine secrets, or striving for accomplishments beyond what God intends. It implies accepting limits and focusing on God-given duties.
Psalm 131 1 Bonus section
The brevity of Psalm 131 (just three verses) highlights the concentrated power of its message. It's often regarded as a classic text on humility and quiet trust. The journey of ascent to Jerusalem (as part of the Psalms of Ascent) spiritually symbolizes leaving behind worldly burdens and arriving at a state of serene dependence on God, preparing one for communion with Him in His sanctuary. The very act of such pilgrimage fosters humility as one traverses vast landscapes, recognizing their smallness before God's creation. This verse, therefore, sets the tone for approaching God: not with demanding arrogance or speculative curiosity, but with childlike submission and quiet waiting.
Psalm 131 1 Commentary
Psalm 131:1 presents King David's declaration of profound inner humility and self-restraint. It is a testament to the peace that comes from abandoning pride, grand ambition, and intellectual arrogance. The verse rejects three forms of pride: first, pride of heart (a high opinion of self); second, pride of look (a condescending or haughty demeanor); and third, pride of action (meddling in divine mysteries or striving for positions beyond one's calling). David, a man chosen by God to be king, often faced the temptation of pride and worldly ambition, yet here he confesses a settled contentment in his humble dependence on God. This posture allows for a tranquil soul, as it relinquishes the restless striving that accompanies a life driven by self-exaltation. It promotes living within the bounds of God's wisdom and sovereign plan rather than challenging or seeking to comprehend divine secrets.