Psalms 131–3
Psalm 131:1-3
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Psa.131.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המעלות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- לדוד: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- גבה: ADJ,m,sg
- לבי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- ולא: CONJ
- רמו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- עיני: NOUN,f,pl,cons+1s
- ולא: CONJ
- הלכתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- בגדלות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ובנפלאות: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ממני: PREP,suff,1,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 131:2 (structural): Immediate continuation and complementary thought: v.2 explicates the humble, quieted posture of the heart (trust and childlike quiet) that v.1 asserts by rejecting pride and lofty ambition.
- Micah 6:8 (thematic): Both prescribe humility before God: Micah demands to 'walk humbly with your God' rather than proud or ambitious behavior, echoing the psalmist's refusal of a proud heart and lofty aims.
- Isaiah 66:2 (thematic): God values the 'humble and contrite' spirit; Isaiah's valuation of lowliness parallels the psalmist's disavowal of pride and haughty eyes.
- Matthew 11:29 (thematic): Jesus describes himself as 'gentle and lowly in heart,' reflecting the New Testament ideal of a lowly, trusting heart that the psalmist models by rejecting pride and grand ambitions.
Alternative generated candidates
- A song of ascents. Of David. O LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or with things too wondrous for me.
- A song of ascents. Of David. O LORD, my heart is not exalted, nor are my eyes haughty; I have not walked in great matters or in wonders beyond me.
Psa.131.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אם: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- שויתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- ודוממתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
- כגמל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- אמו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- כגמל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- נפשי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1cs
Parallels
- Psalm 46:10 (verbal): Both verses call for stillness and quiet confidence before God—'Be still' parallels 'I have calmed and quieted my soul.'
- Psalm 23:1-2 (thematic): Imagery of peaceful trust and divine care (shepherd leading to still waters) parallels the Psalmist's quiet, contented soul like a weaned child.
- Psalm 4:8 (thematic): Trust in the LORD produces inner peace and restful security ('In peace I will lie down and sleep'), echoing the calm of the weaned child.
- Matthew 18:3 (thematic): Jesus' call to become like little children (humble, trusting) parallels the Psalm's use of the weaned child image to express simple, dependent trust in God.
- Isaiah 66:13 (allusion): The maternal comfort image ('As one whom his mother comforts') resonates with the Psalm's 'weaned child with its mother,' linking divine consolation and childlike repose.
Alternative generated candidates
- But I have calmed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child upon its mother—like a weaned child is my soul within me.
- But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother—like a weaned child is my soul.
Psa.131.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יחל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מעתה: ADV
- ועד: CONJ+PREP
- עולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ps.130.7 (verbal): Contains the identical exhortation 'יחל ישראל אל־יהוה' ('Israel, hope in the LORD') and expands the summons with reasons (the LORD's mercy and redemption).
- Ps.130.5 (verbal): First‑person declaration 'קִוִִּ֤יתִי לַיהוָה' ('I wait/hope for the LORD'), echoing the same verb idea of waiting/placing hope in God.
- Ps.31.24 (thematic): A communal exhortation—'Be of good courage... all you who hope in the LORD'—calling the people to trust in YHWH, parallel in purpose and audience to Ps 131:3.
- Isa.40.31 (thematic): 'But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength'—a prophetic promise that links waiting/hope in YHWH with enduring, sustained reliance, thematically close to Ps 131:3.
- Lam.3.24 (thematic): Lamentations 3:24 ('The LORD is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will hope in him') expresses the personal and communal resolution to hope in the LORD, resonant with the summons in Ps 131:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, from this time forth and forevermore.
- O Israel, hope in the LORD—from this time forth and forevermore.
A song of ascents. Of David. O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor have my eyes been haughty; I have not gone after great affairs or lofty wonders beyond me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child on its mother's lap, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD—from now and forevermore.