Psalms 131:1

Context

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

Psalms 134:1

Context

Psalm 134⁵

A song of ascents.⁶

134:1 Attention!⁷ Praise the Lord,

all you servants of the Lord,

who serve⁸ in the Lord’s temple during the night.

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

[131:1] ²sn 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] ³tn Heb “and my eyes are not lifted up.”

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

[134:1] ⁵sn Psalm 134. The psalmist calls on the temple servants to praise God (vv. 1-2). They in turn pronounce a blessing on the psalmist (v. 3).

[134:1] ⁶sn 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.

[134:1] ⁷tn Heb “Look!”

[134:1] ⁸tn Heb “stand.”