שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לְדָוִד ה' לֹא גָבַהּ לִבִּי וְלֹא רָמוּ עֵינַי וְלֹא הִלַּכְתִּי בִּגְדֹלוֹת וּבְנִפְלָאוֹת מִמֶּנִּי

A song of ascents, by David. In common with several other psalms among the Songs of Ascents, this one develops a single idea, or essentially a single image: Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. A haughty heart and lofty eyes are expressions not only of arrogance but also of desire for riches. And I do not aspire to something too great or too wonderful for me. I have no such aspirations. I remain where I am, and as I am.

אִם לֹא שִׁוִּיתִי וְדוֹמַמְתִּי נַפְשִׁי כְּגָמֻל עֲלֵי אִמּוֹ כַּגָּמֻל עָלַי נַפְשִׁי

Instead I have composed and quieted my soul. Shivviti, translated here as “composed,” literally means “equal to.” It describes the absence of any ambition, the sense of being completely at peace with the status quo. The soul is in a state of silence and quiet acceptance, like a weaned child on its mother. This central image of a weaned child held in its mother’s bosom conveys both intimacy and great serenity. Unlike a nursing baby who cuddles in his mother’s lap because he both wants and needs to nurse, the weaned child nestling in his mother’s arms is seeking and receiving only one thing, an intimacy devoid of any material desire. Like a weaned child is my soul. By way of analogy, the psalmist’s soul experiences a state of intimacy and devotion that is characterized by an all-encompassing inner peace and quiet.

יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל ה' מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם

The psalmist concludes with what may be seen as overall advice to Israel: Await the Lord, Israel, from now until eternity. Try to achieve intimacy with God that is free of any request or desire, other than that of being close to Him.