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A Prayer of Humble Trust[a]

131 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.
Instead, I am content and at peace.
As a child lies quietly in its mother's arms,
    so my heart is quiet within me.
Israel, trust in the Lord
    now and forever!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 131:1 HEBREW TITLE: By David.

Psalm 131

A song by David for going up to worship.

O Yahweh, 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.
Instead, I have kept my soul calm and quiet.
    My soul is content as a weaned child is content in its mother’s arms.
Israel, put your hope in Yahweh now and forever.

Psalm 131[a]

A song of ascents,[b] by David.

131 O Lord, my heart is not proud,
nor do I have a haughty look.[c]
I do not have great aspirations,
or concern myself with things that are beyond me.[d]
Indeed,[e] I have calmed and quieted myself[f]
like a weaned child with its mother;[g]
I am content like a young child.[h]
O Israel, hope in the Lord
now and forevermore!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 131:1 sn Psalm 131. The psalmist affirms his humble dependence on the Lord and urges Israel to place its trust in God.
  2. Psalm 131:1 sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.
  3. Psalm 131:1 tn Heb “and my eyes are not lifted up.”
  4. Psalm 131:1 tn Heb “I do not walk in great things, and in things too marvelous for me.”
  5. Psalm 131:2 tn Or “but.”
  6. Psalm 131:2 tn Heb “I make level and make quiet my soul.”
  7. Psalm 131:2 tn Heb “like a weaned [one] upon his mother.”
  8. Psalm 131:2 tn Heb “like the weaned [one] upon me, my soul.”