Psalm 131:1
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
A 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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
A Song of Ascents, of David. LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes arrogant; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me.

NASB 1995
A Song of Ascents, of David. O 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.

NASB 1977
O 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.

Legacy Standard Bible
A Song of Ascents. Of David. O Yahweh, my heart is not exalted, and my eyes are not raised high; And I do not involve myself in great matters, Or in matters too marvelous for me.

Amplified Bible
A Song of Ascents. Of David. 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.

Christian Standard Bible
A song of ascents. Of David. LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I do not get involved with things too great or too wondrous for me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A Davidic song of ascents. LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I do not get involved with things too great or too difficult for me.

American Standard Version
A 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.

Contemporary English Version
I am not conceited, LORD, and I don't waste my time on impossible schemes.

English Revised Version
A Song of Ascents; of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too wonderful for me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[A song by David for going up to worship.] O LORD, my heart is not conceited. My eyes do not look down on others. I am not involved in things too big or too difficult for me.

Good News Translation
LORD, I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance. I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me.

International Standard Version
LORD, my heart is not arrogant, nor do I look haughty. I do not aspire to great things, nor concern myself with things beyond my ability.

Majority Standard Bible
A 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.

NET Bible
A song of ascents, by David. O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor do I have a haughty look. I do not have great aspirations, or concern myself with things that are beyond me.

New Heart English Bible
[A Song of Ascents. By David.] LORD, my heart isn't haughty, nor my eyes lofty; nor do I concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me.

Webster's Bible Translation
A 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.

World English Bible
A Song of Ascents. By David. Yahweh, my heart isn’t arrogant, nor my eyes lofty; nor do I concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A SONG OF THE ASCENTS. BY DAVID. YHWH, my heart has not been haughty, "" Nor have my eyes been high, "" Nor have I walked in great things, "" And in things too wonderful for me.

Young's Literal Translation
A 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.

Smith's Literal Translation
Song of ascensions to David. O Jehovah, my heart was not lifted up, and mine eyes were not exalted, and I went not in great things and in wonders above me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Lord, my heart is not exalted: nor are my eyes lofty. Neither have I walked in great matters, nor in wonderful things above me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
A Canticle in steps: of David. O Lord, my heart has not been exalted, and my eyes have not been raised up. Neither have I walked in greatness, nor in wonders beyond me.

New American Bible
A song of ascents. Of David. LORD, my heart is not proud; nor are my eyes haughty. I do not busy myself with great matters, with things too sublime for me.

New Revised Standard Version
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.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I deal in great matters, nor in things too high for me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
LORD JEHOVAH, my heart is not lifted up, neither are my eyes lifted up, neither have I walked in a pretense of things greater than I.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
A Song of Ascents; of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in things too great, or in things too wonderful for me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A Song of Degrees. O Lord, my heart is not exalted, neither have mine eyes been haughtily raised: neither have I exercised myself in great matters, nor in things too wonderful for me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Have Stilled My Soul
1A 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. 2Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.…

Cross References
Matthew 18:4
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.

Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:14
I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Ephesians 4:2
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Proverbs 16:19
It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 21:4
Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.

Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?


Treasury of Scripture

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.

A Song of Degrees.

Psalm 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.

Psalm 124:1
A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;

Psalm 133:1
A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

my heart

Numbers 12:3
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

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 16:13,18,22
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…

neither

Psalm 78:70-72
He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: …

Jeremiah 17:16
As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.

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.

exercise.

Psalm 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.

Romans 11:33
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

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Ascents Concern David Degrees Difficult Exercise Eyes Great Haughty Heart High Involve Lofty Marvelous Matters Over-Hard Part Proud Raised Song Undertakings Wonderful
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Ascents Concern David Degrees Difficult Exercise Eyes Great Haughty Heart High Involve Lofty Marvelous Matters Over-Hard Part Proud Raised Song Undertakings Wonderful
Psalm 131
1. David professing his humility
3. Exhorts Israel to trust in God














My heart is not proud
The Hebrew word for "heart" is "לֵב" (lev), which often signifies the inner self, encompassing thoughts, emotions, and will. In ancient Hebrew culture, the heart was seen as the center of one's being, the seat of intellect and emotion. The psalmist, traditionally understood to be David, begins with a declaration of humility. The word "proud" translates from "גָּבַהּ" (gavah), meaning high or exalted. This phrase reflects a conscious decision to reject arrogance and self-exaltation, aligning with the biblical principle that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). In a world where status and self-promotion were as prevalent as today, this statement is a profound commitment to humility before God.

O LORD
The term "LORD" is the English representation of the Tetragrammaton, "יהוה" (YHWH), the sacred and personal name of God revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14. This name signifies God's eternal, self-existent nature and His covenant relationship with His people. By addressing God with this name, the psalmist acknowledges a personal and reverent relationship with the Creator, recognizing His sovereignty and authority over all aspects of life. This invocation sets the tone for the psalm, emphasizing submission and reverence.

my eyes are not haughty
The phrase "my eyes are not haughty" uses the Hebrew "רָמוּ" (ramu), meaning lifted up or exalted. In biblical literature, the eyes often symbolize one's perspective or attitude. Haughty eyes are indicative of pride and arrogance, looking down on others. The psalmist's declaration is a commitment to humility in how he views himself in relation to others and to God. This humility is a recurring theme in Scripture, where God values a contrite and lowly spirit (Isaiah 57:15).

I do not aspire to great things
The Hebrew word for "aspire" is "הָלַךְ" (halak), which means to walk or to go. In this context, it implies pursuing or striving after something. "Great things" translates from "גָּדוֹל" (gadol), meaning large or important. The psalmist expresses contentment with his position and role, avoiding the pursuit of personal ambition that leads to pride. This reflects a trust in God's plan and timing, reminiscent of Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:33 to seek first the kingdom of God.

or matters too lofty for me
The word "lofty" comes from "פָּלָא" (pala), meaning wonderful or extraordinary. The psalmist acknowledges the limitations of human understanding and ability, choosing not to concern himself with things beyond his grasp. This humility is a recognition of God's omniscience and omnipotence, trusting that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). It is an invitation to rest in God's wisdom and sovereignty, rather than being burdened by the pursuit of things beyond our control.

Verse 1. - Lord, my heart is not haughty; or, "not lifted up" (comp. 2 Chronicles 26:16; 2 Chronicles 32:25). Not unduly elated by the prosperity that thou hast bestowed on me. Nor mine eyes lofty (comp. Psalm 101:5), "Pride," as Hengstenberg says, "has its seat in the heart, and betrays itself especially in the eyes." Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me; literally, too wonderful (comp. Psalm 139:6, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me: it is high: I cannot attain unto it"). The speculative debates of so-called "wise men" concerning the deep things of God's moral government are probably glanced at (see Job 42:3).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A Song
שִׁ֥יר (šîr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7892: A song, singing

of Ascents.
הַֽמַּֽעֲל֗וֹת (ham·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4609: Elevation, the act, the condition, a climactic progression

Of David.
לְדָ֫וִ֥ד (lə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

My heart
לִ֭בִּי (lib·bî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

is not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

proud,
גָבַ֣הּ (ḡā·ḇah)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1361: To soar, be lofty, to be haughty

O LORD,
יְהוָ֤ה ׀ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

my eyes
עֵינַ֑י (‘ê·nay)
Noun - cdc | first person common singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

are not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

haughty.
רָמ֣וּ (rā·mū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7311: To be high actively, to rise, raise

I do not
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

aspire
הִלַּ֓כְתִּי ׀ (hil·laḵ·tî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

to great matters
בִּגְדֹל֖וֹת (biḡ·ḏō·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-b | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

or things too lofty
וּבְנִפְלָא֣וֹת (ū·ḇə·nip̄·lā·’ō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 6381: To separate, distinguish, to be, great, difficult, wonderful

for me.
מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ (mim·men·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of


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OT Poetry: Psalm 131:1 A Song of Ascents (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 130:8
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