Bible Strands
Psalms 131:1
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The superscription identifies the speaker as David in a song of ascents, addressed to Yahweh. The text states a denial of pride, haughtiness, and aspiration to great or lofty matters.
The words — The Hebrew terms ga.Vah, "it has been lofty," and ra.Mu, "they have been uplifted," carry the verse's image of height.
The thread — The same anti-proud posture appears in Romans 12:16, which says not to be proud or conceited. It also echoes Psalms 139:6 and Job 42:3, where human limits before God are acknowledged.
Why it lands — It asks the reader to renounce pride and to stop aspiring to matters too lofty. It asks for a soul stilled and quieted, as Psalms 131:2 states.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.
- Psalms 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
- Job 42:3 You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
- Psalms 101:5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.
- Jeremiah 45:5 But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go, I will grant your life as a spoil of war.”
- Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6 Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
- Psalms 122:1 A song of ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
- Numbers 12:3 Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.
- Deuteronomy 17:20 Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, and he will not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or to the left, in order that he and his sons may reign many years over his kingdom in Israel.