Bellarmine on Psalm 130 : Title & theme

Title and subject matter

A Canticle of the Steps

Canticum graduum David.

In this Psalm, David sings of the virtue of his humility, and he is singing not in front of three or four people, but on the world’s stage; now although this is to praise himself greatly, it does not go against the precept in Proverbs xxvii: “Let another praise thee, and not thy own mouth: a stranger, and not thy own lips.”[1] In fact, while praising oneself is shameful, it may sometimes be done out of necessity; not to praise oneself when necessity requires it is foolish. Blessed Paul said: “For not he who commendeth himself, is approved, but he, whom God commendeth,”[2] and yet he saw it was necessary to rebut the calumnies of the pseudo-apostles. In this Psalm, David acknowledges in himself the virtue of humility, because he had often been accused of pride and ambition, for which vice he had a great abhorrence. In chapter xvii of Book I of Kings, his brother says to him : “I know thy pride, and the wickedness of thy heart;”[3] in Chapter xvii and elsewhere in the same book, Saul frequently seeks after David so as to ambush him; and in chapter xvi of Book II of Kings, Semei, cursing David, reproaches him for usurping Saul’s kingdom. David, therefore, in order to rebut these calumnies, calls God as a witness to the depths of his humility and singular modesty. Besides, even if no calumny had been put forward, he could proclaim his humility, not so as to speak out about his virtues, but so as to show that, even though he might stand out among all the men of Palestine by virtue of his strength, power, wisdom and other qualities, yet he could never place trust in his own powers; and so following his example, everyone should hope in God alone, as he says at the end of the Psalm. This is one of the Gradual Psalms and it teaches what true humility is and how there is no surer way to ascend the steps than through humility, as the Lord says: “Every one that … humbleth himself, shall be exalted.”[4]

[1] Let another praise thee, and not thy own mouth: a stranger, and not thy own lips. Laudet te alienus, et non os tuum; extraneus, et non labia tua. [Proverbs xxvii 2]

[2] For not he who commendeth himself, is approved, but he, whom God commendeth. Non enim qui seipsum commendat, ille probatus est : sed quem Deus commendat. [II Corinth. X 18]

[3] Now when Eliab his eldest brother heard this, when he was speaking with others, he was angry with David, and said: Why camest thou hither? and why didst thou leave those few sheep in the desert? I know thy pride, and the wickedness of thy heart: that thou art come down to see the battle. Quod cum audisset Eliab frater ejus major, loquente eo cum aliis, iratus est contra David, et ait : Quare venisti, et quare dereliquisti pauculas oves illas in deserto? Ego novi superbiam tuam, et nequitiam cordis tui : quia ut videres praelium, descendisti. [I Kings xvii 28]

[4] Because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted. quia omnis, qui se exaltat, humiliabitur : et qui se humiliat, exaltabitur. [Luke xiv 11]

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.