Psalms 131

A short psalm of humble, childlike trust in God.

Psalms 131 - A Heart Not Haughty

Psalm 131 is one of the shortest psalms, a personal confession that begins, "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty." Its quiet, three-verse simplicity offers a deliberate contrast to the anguished cry that opens Psalms 130.


A Song of Ascents; of David. HaShem, 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.

Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother; my soul is with me like a weaned child.

O Israel, hope in HaShem from this time forth and for ever.

The psalmist likens his settled spirit to "a child that is weaned of his mother," a picture of contented trust rather than striving for great matters, echoed in the humility urged by <a href="/bible/jps/romans/chapter-12/16">Romans 12:16</a>. See the full collection on the <a href="/bible/jps/psalms">Psalms overview</a> or continue to <a href="/bible/jps/psalms/chapter-132">Psalms 132</a>.