Translations
A Song of Ascents. By David.
O Yahweh, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes set on heights too lofty; I do not occupy myself with things too great or with marvels beyond my reach.
A Song of the Ascents. By David.
O YHWH, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; I do not walk in matters too great, or in wonders beyond me.
A Song of degrees of David.
LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
A song of ascents. Of David.
My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me.
Footnotes
The superscription *shir hama'alot* ('Song of the Ascents') marks this as one of fifteen pilgrimage psalms (Psalms 120–134), likely sung as worshippers made their ascent to Jerusalem for the three annual festivals, or as they climbed the steps of the Temple court itself. The attribution *ledavid* ('by/of David') lends the psalm striking biographical irony: the man who did pursue great things—the kingship, the Ark, the Temple—confesses here that he has learned to stop straining. The closing *mimmenni* ('beyond me' or 'from me') governs both *gedolot* ('things too great') and *nifla'ot* ('wonders/marvels'), the latter sharing its root with *pele*, the word for miraculous wonder.

