Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.
Parallel translations
- WEB Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
- BSB Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
- NKJV Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
- NASB I have certainly soothed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child resting against his mother, My soul within me is like a weaned child.
- NLT Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David has calmed his soul like a weaned child content with its mother. It pictures restful trust that no longer frets or grasps.
Overview
David compares his quieted soul to a weaned child resting peacefully with its mother, no longer crying for what it craves but simply content to be near. This is the peace of a heart settled in God rather than its own desires. Such rest is found fully in Christ, who gives peace to the weary and burdened.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Mark 10:15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
- 1 Cor 14:20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
- Ps 43:5Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
- Lam 3:26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
- Ps 42:11Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
- Matt 18:3–4And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- John 14:1–2Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
- Isa 30:15For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
- Ps 62:1Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
- Ps 42:5Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
- Luke 21:19In your patience possess ye your souls.
- 1 Sam 30:6And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
- 1 Sam 24:10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’s anointed.
- 2 Sam 15:25–26And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:
- 2 Sam 16:11–12And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
- 1 Sam 25:32–33And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 131:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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