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Psalm 131 · a question people ask

"My heart isn’t arrogant" (131:1). Isn't it proud to say so?

In the text

The psalm doesn't take up that question, and these notes won't answer it for the psalm. What the psalm does show is who it says this to. It begins "LORD" (131:1): the words are spoken to the LORD, not to other people. What it says is plain and short: a heart not high, eyes not high, and "nor do I concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me" (131:1). Then it says what the speaker has done: "Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul" (131:2). It doesn't say how, or how long it took.

The verses

“A Song of Ascents. By David. LORD, my heart isn’t arrogant, nor my eyes lofty; nor do I concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me. Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.”
Psalm 131:1-2 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 131

Psalm 131: Like a weaned child

Psalm 131 says the heart and the eyes are not high, with two Hebrew verbs for high, and its concern myself (131:1) is the verb for walking. Then it is the soul, not the speaker, that is "like a weaned child" (131:2), stilled and quieted. And it ends by turning to all Israel: "Israel, hope in the LORD" (131:3).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions