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Psalms 131

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Psalm 131¹

A song of ascents,² by David.

131:1 O Lord, my heart is not proud,

nor do I have a haughty look.³

I do not have great aspirations,

or concern myself with things that are beyond me.⁴

131:2 Indeed⁵ I am composed and quiet,⁶

like a young child carried by its mother;⁷

I am content like the young child I carry.⁸

131:3 O Israel, hope in the Lord

now and forevermore!

[131:1] ¹ sn Psalm 131. The psalmist affirms his humble dependence on the Lord and urges Israel to place its trust in God.

[131:1] ² 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.

[131:1] ³ tn Heb “and my eyes are not lifted up.”

[131:1] ⁴ tn Heb “I do not walk in great things, and in things too marvelous for me.”

[131:2] ⁵ tn Or “but.”

[131:2] ⁶ tn Heb “I make level and make quiet my soul.”

[131:2] ⁷ tn Heb “like a weaned [one] upon his mother.”

[131:2] ⁸ tn Heb “like the weaned [one] upon me, my soul.”