Bellarmine on Psalm 130: Verses 1 & 2

Verse 1

Lord, my heart is not exalted: nor are my eyes lofty. 

Domine, non est exaltatum cor meum, neque elati sunt oculi mei.

The Prophet, secure in speaking the truth, addresses himself to God, whom no-one can deceive; in the presence of God, he says he has never been subject to the vice of pride, whether the inner workings of his heart or the visible, external signs (of his life) are considered. For many people are secretly proud within their heart, judging themselves to be great : but they feign humility on the outside; many too, with a pride no less puffed up, look down on their neighbours, and condemn them with a haughty and inflated heart. But David bore himself with a heart that was not exalted and with eyes that were not lofty.

Verse 2

Neither have I walked in great matters, nor in wonderful things above me.

neque ambulavi in magnis, neque in mirabilibus super me.

He has spoken about pride in the heart and in the eyes : now he adds pride arising from words and actions : for some people boast they can do, or have done, or would be able to do things greater and more wonderful than they really could; and in this they walk or get above themselves, in speaking ; others presume to do things which are beyond their abilities and they walk or get above themselves in their work and actions. David, however, stuck with his own level, grounded in true humility, and so neither in his speech nor in his actions did he get above himself in great and wonderful things, that is, he did not seek glory for himself in having done great and wonderful things beyond his abilities; nor did he try to do things he knew he could not achieve.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.