PSALTERIVM

PSALMVS CXXX — DOMINE NON EST

Lord, My Heart Is Not Exalted

Domine, non est exaltatum cor meum is a psalm of childlike humility and contentment, the shortest of the Gradual Psalms. The image of the weaned child at its mother's breast expresses perfect trust without demand. St. Bernard finds here the model of quieted prayer.

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 for ever.
NOTA
FONS
Douay-Rheims (1609) / Vulgata
USUS
Humility, Compline
CONTEXT
Psalm 131 in Hebrew numbering. Twelfth Song of Ascents. St. Therese of Lisieux's 'Little Way' finds its scriptural basis in this psalm.