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Psalterium Catholicum offers praying the Psalms, practicing Lectio Divina, and exploring faithful Catholic resources for daily devotion.

Psalm 130 The Psalter Psalm 132

PSALMVS CXXXI

Domine, non est exaltatum

A Song of Degrees: Childlike Trust · Trust · Book V

Pray this Psalm · Lectio Divina

1Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord:

2Lord, hear my voice. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

3If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it.

4For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on his word:

5my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

6From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.

7Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption.

8And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Douay-Rheims · Challoner Revision

Read the NABRE at the USCCB

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Wisdom of the Church

Psalm 131, inscribed with the superscription 'A Song of Ascents, of David,' stands as one of the fifteen Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120–134) traditionally sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for the three major festivals. Attributed to David, the psalm likely reflects the post-exilic period, serving as a communal expression of the remnant of Israel returning to Zion. It functions as a confession of humility, contrasting the arrogance of the soul with the quiet trust of a weaned child. Historically, these psalms were utilized during the processions toward the Second Temple, acting as liturgical songs of preparation and purification. While the Davidic authorship signifies an ideal of royal humility, the historical setting points to the collective experience of a nation learning to rely solely upon the Lord after the trauma of the Babylonian Exile. The psalm’s placement within the final 'book' of the Psalter marks it as a key component in the liturgical structure of the liturgy, emphasizing the necessary disposition of the pilgrim soul approaching the holy Presence of God in the sanctuary.