Mazmur 131:1
KonteksA song of ascents, 2 by David.
131:1 O Lord, my heart is not proud,
nor do I have a haughty look. 3
I do not have great aspirations,
or concern myself with things that are beyond me. 4
Mazmur 98:1
KonteksA psalm.
98:1 Sing to the Lord a new song, 6
for he performs 7 amazing deeds!
His right hand and his mighty arm
accomplish deliverance. 8
[131:1] 1 sn Psalm 131. The psalmist affirms his humble dependence on the Lord and urges Israel to place its trust in God.
[131:1] 2 sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.
[131:1] 3 tn Heb “and my eyes are not lifted up.”
[131:1] 4 tn Heb “I do not walk in great things, and in things too marvelous for me.”
[98:1] 5 sn Psalm 98. The psalmist summons the whole earth to praise God because he reveals his justice and delivers Israel.
[98:1] 6 sn A new song is appropriate because the Lord is constantly intervening in the world as its just king. See Ps 96:1.
[98:1] 7 tn The perfect verbal forms in vv. 1-3 are understood here as describing characteristic divine activities. Another option is to translate them as present perfects, “has performed…has accomplished deliverance, etc.” referring to completed actions that have continuing results.
[98:1] 8 tn Heb “his right hand delivers for him and his holy arm.” The right hand and arm symbolize his power as a warrior-king (see Isa 52:10). His arm is “holy” in the sense that it is in a category of its own; God’s power is incomparable.
