PRO MILITIA

PSALMVS CXXX — DOMINE NON EST EXALTATVM (Contra Superbiam)

Psalm 130 — Lord, My Heart Is Not Exalted (Against Pride)

Psalm 130 (131) is the briefest of the Gradual Psalms (Songs of Ascent), expressing childlike humility: 'Lord, my heart is not exalted, nor are my eyes lofty.' The image of the weaned child at its mother's breast represents perfect trust without demand. St. Bernard finds here the model of quieted prayer. This psalm is the scriptural antidote to superbia (pride).

LATINE
Domine, non est exaltatum cor meum,
neque elati sunt oculi mei.
Neque ambulavi in magnis,
neque in mirabilibus super me.
Si non humiliter sentiebam,
sed exaltavi animam meam:
sicut ablactatus est super matre sua,
ita retributio in anima mea.
Speret Israel in Domino,
ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum.
ENGLISH
Lord, my heart is not exalted,
nor are my eyes lofty.
Neither have I walked in great matters,
nor in wonderful things above me.
If I was not humbly minded,
but exalted my soul:
as a child that is weaned is towards his mother,
so reward in my soul.
Let Israel hope in the Lord,
from henceforth now and forever.
NOTA
FONS
Psalmus 130, Vulgata / Douay-Rheims
USUS
Against pride, humility, spiritual childhood
CONTEXT
Cassian (Institutes XII): 'Pride is the beginning of all sin... it was pride that cast down the angel from heaven.' This psalm, one of the Gradual Psalms, images the soul as a weaned child—no longer seeking the breast but content to rest quietly with God.