The Eastern Cross/Bible/Psalms/Psalm 130
The Book of Psalms · the Psalter
Psalm 131 in the KJV and most English Bibles
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A Song of Degrees. O Lord, my heart is not exalted, Neither have mine eyes been haughtily raised: Neither have I exercised myself in great matters, Nor in things too wonderful for me.
Ὠδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. Κύριε, οὐχ ὑψώθη ἡ καρδία μου, οὐδὲ ἐμετεωρίσθησαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου· οὐδὲ ἐπορεύθην ἐν μεγάλοις, οὐδὲ ἐν θαυμασίοις ὑπὲρ ἐμέ.
"Lord, my heart is not lifted up". He hath offered a sacrifice. Whence do we prove that he hath offered a sacrifice? Because humility of heart is a sacrifice. ...If there is no sacrifice, there is no Priest. But if we have a High Priest in Heaven, who intercedeth with the Father for us (for He hath entered into the…
"Lord, my heart was not lifted up, neither were mine eyes raised on high"; "I have not exercised myself in great matters, nor in wonderful things which are too high for me". Let this be more plainly spoken and heard. I have not been proud: I have not wished to be known among men as for wondrous powers; nor have I…
I shall have sinned if I have not been humble, But have exalted my soul: According to the relation of a weaned child to his mother, So wilt thou recompense my soul.
Εἰ μὴ ἐταπεινοφρόνουν, ἀλλὰ ὕψωσα τὴν ψυχήν μου· ὡς τὸ ἀπογεγαλακτισμένον ἐπὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, ὡς ἀνταποδώσεις ἐπὶ τὴν ψυχήν μου.
"If I had not lowly thoughts, but have lifted up my soul, as one taken from his mother's breast, such the reward for my soul". He seemeth as it were to have bound himself by a curse: ...as though he had been going to say, Let it so happen to me. "As one taken away from his mother's breast, may be my soul's reward." Ye…
Let Israel hope in the Lord, From henceforth and forever.
Ἐλπισάτω Ἰσραὴλ ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος.
This Psalm therefore concludes to this purpose: "O Israel, trust in the Lord, from this time forth and even unto eternity". But the word seculum does not always mean this world, but sometimes eternity; since eternity is understood in two ways; until eternity, that is, either evermore without end, or until we arrive at…
Every note is a real passage, quoted word for word from a published English translation, with its source. Nothing here is summarised or written by us. Some verses have many notes and some have none, because the Fathers wrote more on some passages than others.
All of these translations are in the public domain. The passages were matched to their verses by the Historical Christian Commentaries project, which also hosts the full texts we link to. The Fathers are a treasury of the Church's mind, and they are best read alongside the life of the Church: if a passage raises a question, bring it to your priest.