1 <A Song of the going up. Of David.> Lord, there is no pride in my heart and my eyes are not lifted up; and I have not taken part in great undertakings, or in things over-hard for me.
Be in harmony with one another. Do not have a high opinion of yourselves, but be in agreement with common people. Do not give yourselves an air of wisdom.
Who is this who makes dark the purpose of God by words without knowledge? For I have been talking without knowledge about wonders not to be searched out.
Such knowledge is a wonder greater than my powers; it is so high that I may not come near it.
I will put to death anyone who says evil of his neighbour secretly; the man with a high look and a heart of pride is disgusting to me.
As for me, I have not said; Let the day of trouble come to them quickly; and I have not been hoping for the death-giving day; you have knowledge of what came from my lips; it was open before you.
You are witnesses, with God, how holy and upright and free from all evil was our way of life among you who have faith;
O how deep is the wealth of the wisdom and knowledge of God! no one is able to make discovery of his decisions, and his ways may not be searched out.
Doing the Lord's work without pride, through all the sorrow and troubles which came on me because of the evil designs of the Jews:
Now the man Moses was more gentle than any other man on earth.
<A Song of the going up. Of David.> See how good and how pleasing it is for brothers to be living together in harmony!
<A Song of the going up. Of David.> I was glad because they said to me, We will go into the house of the Lord.
He took David to be his servant, taking him from the place of the flocks; From looking after the sheep which were giving milk, he took him to give food to Jacob his people, and to Israel his heritage. So he gave them food with an upright heart, guiding them by the wisdom of his hands.
And Eliab, his oldest brother, hearing what David said to the men, was moved to wrath against David, and said, Why have you come here? Into whose care have you given that little flock of sheep in the waste land? I have knowledge of your pride and the evil of your heart, you have come down to see the fight. And David said, What have I done now? was it not only a word?
Now David went to and from Saul, looking after his father's sheep at Beth-lehem.
Then one of the servants in answer said, I have seen a son of Jesse, the Beth-lehemite, who is expert at playing, and a strong man and a man of war; and he is wise in his words, and pleasing in looks, and the Lord is with him.
Then Samuel took the bottle of oil, and put the oil on him there among his brothers: and from that day the spirit of the Lord came on David with power. So Samuel went back to Ramah.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 131
Commentary on Psalms 131 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 131
Ps 131:1-3. This Psalm, while expressive of David's pious feelings on assuming the royal office, teaches the humble, submissive temper of a true child of God.
1. eyes lofty—a sign of pride (Ps 18:27).
exercise myself—literally, "walk in," or "meddle with."
2. Surely, &c.—The form is that of an oath or strongest assertion. Submission is denoted by the figure of a weaned child. As the child weaned by his mother from the breast, so I still the motions of pride in me (Mt 18:3, 4; Isa 11:8; 28:9). Hebrew children were often not weaned till three years old.
soul—may be taken for desire, which gives a more definite sense, though one included in the idea conveyed by the usual meaning, myself.