(א) שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לְדָוִד ה’ לֹא גָבַהּ לִבִּי וְלֹא רָמוּ עֵינַי וְלֹא הִלַּכְתִּי בִּגְדֹלוֹת וּבְנִפְלָאוֹת מִמֶּנִּי:
(1) A song of the steps, by David. Hashem, my heart has not been conceited, nor have my eyes looked with superiority. I have not gone about [looking] for things [too] great and wondrous for me.
NOTE: For a PDF of this mizmor, please click here. This will enable you to print out the entire text of the article. [Rev. 4]
Key Concepts of Mizmor 131 – To be Worthy of Redemption
As in many of the previous mizmorim of this series, the mizmor reflects a time when the Jewish people are in Exile. In the mizmor the nation defends its worthiness for the Geulah (Redemption), pleading that it has overcome the sinful middos (attitudes) of pride and arrogance. It uses the powerful image of a nursing baby to symbolize complete trust and submissiveness.
Navigating Tehillim. This is the twefth in the series of 15 mizmorim to be sung by the Leviim in the Beis HaMikdash while standing on the 15 steps leading up from the women’s courtyard to the men’s courtyard.
Exploring the Mizmor
PART 1. A PLEA FOR REDEMPTION. The nation in exile calls out to Hashem and pleads that it deserves to be redeemed. The nation has gained an attitude of humility and submissiveness, which it describes using the image of a nursing baby that is gradually being weaned. The contented infant has total trust in its mother’s love and in her commitment to its welfare.
(א) שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לְדָוִד ה’ לֹא גָבַהּ לִבִּי וְלֹא רָמוּ עֵינַי וְלֹא הִלַּכְתִּי בִּגְדֹלוֹת וּבְנִפְלָאוֹת מִמֶּנִּי: (ב) אִם לֹא שִׁוִּיתִי וְדוֹמַמְתִּי נַפְשִׁי כְּגָמֻל עֲלֵי אִמּוֹ כַּגָּמֻל עָלַי נַפְשִׁי:
(1) A song of the steps, by David. Hashem, my heart has not been conceited, nor have my eyes looked with superiority. I have not gone about [looking] for things [too] great and wondrous for me. (2) I swear I have calmed and stilled myself, like a nursing baby on its mother; I am like a nursing baby.
PART 2. NEVER GIVE UP HOPE. The mizmor is concluded with the words of David comforting the nation, and advising the people not to lose hope. The Geulah will surely come, he says, and the efforts of the people to improve their middos will bring that day closer.
(ג) יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל ה’ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם:
(3) Let Yisrael look expectantly for Hashem from this time and forever.
Additional Thoughts
Mizmorim 130 and 131 appear to be logically related, linked by the phrase, “Let Yisrael look expectantly for Hashem.” which they share. In both mizmorim David cries out in the name of Klal Yisrael, pleading to Hashem to bring the Geulah. However, in Mizmor 130 he emphasizes our low physical and spiritual state, and how distant we are from Hashem. In Mizmor 131 he also pleads for redemption. But he now argues that even though the pain of Exile has eased, we have not let it go to our heads; we have worked to overcome the temptations of pride and selfishness. The humbled words of the previous mizmor are, in effect, a demonstration of this attitude.
Learning the Mizmor
PART 1. A PLEA FOR REDEMPTION.
(א) שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לְדָוִד
This is the 12th song of the steps — שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת . It was composed by David — לְדָוִד .
ה‘ לֹא גָבַהּ לִבִּי
וְלֹא רָמוּ עֵינַי
וְלֹא רָמוּ עֵינַי
Hashem, my heart has not been conceited — ה‘ לֹא גָבַהּ לִבִּי – with thoughts of self-entitlement in pursuing pleasure and knowledge. Nor have my eyes looked with superiority — וְלֹא רָמוּ עֵינַי – upon other people and upon the necessary limits to my behavior.
וְלֹא הִלַּכְתִּי בִּגְדֹלוֹת
וּבְנִפְלָאוֹת מִמֶּנִּי:
וּבְנִפְלָאוֹת מִמֶּנִּי:
I have not gone about — וְלֹא הִלַּכְתִּי – looking for things too great and too wondrous for me — בִּגְדֹלוֹת וּבְנִפְלָאוֹת מִמֶּנִּי , such as determining the exact time of the Geulah or understanding the mysteries of the universe that are beyond human comprehension. I have accepted the tribulations of the Exile with humility.
(ב) אִם לֹא שִׁוִּיתִי וְדוֹמַמְתִּי נַפְשִׁי
כְּגָמֻל עֲלֵי אִמּוֹ
כַּגָּמֻל עָלַי נַפְשִׁי:
כְּגָמֻל עֲלֵי אִמּוֹ
כַּגָּמֻל עָלַי נַפְשִׁי:
I swear — אִם לֹא – that I have taught myself to be humble. I have calmed and stilled myself — שִׁוִּיתִי וְדוֹמַמְתִּי נַפְשִׁי , like a nursing baby on its mother’s bosom — כְּגָמֻל עֲלֵי אִמּוֹ ; I have truly made myself to be like a nursing baby — כַּגָּמֻל עָלַי נַפְשִׁי . I am like a contented infant that has complete trust in its mother. It accepts her judgment of when to nurse and when to be gradually weaned. And so I have trusted Your wisdom, Hashem, and have not questioned Your plan for me.
PART 2. NEVER GIVE UP HOPE.
(ג) יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל ה‘
מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם:
מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם:
O nation of Yisrael, look expectantly for Hashem — יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל ה‘ – to bring the Geulah as He has promised. The zechus of your worthy middos will surely bring that day closer. So continue to have faith from this time and forever — מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם .
Living the Mizmor
Listed below are some of the thoughts you might have in mind when you say the words of the mizmor as a tefillah to Hashem.
Lessons for Life – Your Attitude.
[131:1] HUMILITY. – לֹא גָבַהּ לִבִּי וְלֹא רָמוּ עֵינַי – “Hashem, my heart has not been conceited, nor have my eyes looked with superiority.” Make a conscious effort to develop and maintain humility.
[131:2] SUBMISSIVENESS. – אִם לֹא שִׁוִּיתִי וְדוֹמַמְתִּי נַפְשִׁי כְּגָמֻל עֲלֵי אִמּוֹ – “I swear I have calmed and stilled myself, like a nursing baby on its mother.” Work on your attitude of submissiveness to the will of Hashem, modeling it on that of a nursing baby.
[131:3] HOPE. – יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל ה’ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם – “Let Yisrael look expectantly for Hashem from this time and forever.” Having developed the right middos you are justified in hoping expectantly for the Geulah.
Sources
The primary sources used in the interpretation of the verses of this mizmor are listed below.
א – אבן עזרא, רד”ק, ספורנו, אבן יחייא , מלבי”ם, מזמור לתודה
ב – רד”ק, המאירי, ספורנו
ג – רד”ק, ספורנו