When it is said
Read it before you face someone in authority who is angry with you.
It also fits the quiet after a hard meeting, when you are tempted to hold a grudge.
Where it comes from
No author known
From the Russian prayer book
Among its prayers for particular needs, the Russian prayer book has one headed “Prayer when those in authority are angry”. Its whole text is this psalm, Psalm 132 in most Bibles and 131 in the Greek and Slavonic. The psalm was not written for this. It asks God to remember David, who swore not to sleep until he had found a place for the Lord to dwell.
Molitvoslov (the Russian prayer book), on Azbyka; Brenton’s English Septuagint, on eBible
David’s meekness
In his commentary on the Psalms, the Greek monk Euthymius Zigabenus took this meekness to mean that David held no grudge against Saul, or against Shimei, who cursed him (2 Samuel 16:5). Saul had hurled a spear at David while David played the lyre for him (1 Samuel 18:10-11). Yet when Saul walked into the cave where David was hiding, David would not lift a hand against him (1 Samuel 24:3-6).
Euthymius Zigabenus, commentary on the Psalms (in Russian), on Azbyka
What the words mean
Meekness or afflictions?
The King James Version follows the Hebrew, which asks God to remember David “and all his afflictions”. The Greek Bible the Orthodox read has “all his meekness”, and so does the Slavonic made from it. St John Chrysostom, quoted in a Russian commentary, said the psalm names David’s meekness because meekness is especially pleasing to God (Isaiah 66:2).
The King James Version, on eBible; Bishop Palladius, commentary on the Psalms (1874), on Azbyka
The Scripture in it
O LORD, remember on behalf of David all the hardships he endured, how he swore an oath to the LORD, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: “I will not enter my house or get into my bed, I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” We heard that the ark was in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. Let us go to His dwelling place; let us worship at His footstool. Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. May Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and Your saints shout for joy. For the sake of Your servant David, do not reject Your anointed one. The LORD swore an oath to David, a promise He will not revoke: “One of your descendants I will place on your throne. If your sons keep My covenant and the testimony I will teach them, then their sons will also sit on your throne forever and ever.” For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home: “This is My resting place forever and ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired this home. I will bless her with abundant provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will sing out in joy. There I will make a horn grow for David; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one. I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown upon him will gleam.”
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Church Slavonic
Помяни́, Го́споди, Дави́да и всю́ кро́тость его́:
я́ко кля́тся Го́сподеви, обеща́ся Бо́гу Иа́ковлю:
а́ще вни́ду в селе́ние до́му моего́, или́ взы́ду на о́др посте́ли моея́:
а́ще да́м со́н очи́ма мои́ма, и ве́ждома мои́ма дрема́ние, и поко́й скраниа́ма мои́ма:
до́ндеже обря́щу ме́сто Го́сподеви, селе́ние Бо́гу Иа́ковлю.
Се́, слы́шахом я́ во Евфра́ѳе, обрето́хом я́ в поля́х дубра́вы:
вни́дем в селе́ния Его́, поклони́мся на ме́сто, иде́же стоя́сте но́зе Его́.
Воскре́сни́, Го́споди, в поко́й Тво́й, Ты́ и киво́т святы́ни Твоея́.
Свяще́нницы Твои́ облеку́тся пра́вдою, и преподо́бнии Твои́ возра́дуются.
Дави́да ра́ди раба́ Твоего́, не отврати́ лице́ пома́заннаго Твоего́.
Кля́тся Госпо́дь Дави́ду и́стиною, и не отве́ржется ея́:
от плода́ чре́ва твоего́ посажду́ на престо́ле твое́м.
А́ще сохраня́т сы́нове твои́ заве́т Мо́й и свиде́ния Моя́ сия́, и́мже научу́ я́, и сы́нове и́х до ве́ка ся́дут на престо́ле твое́м.
Я́ко избра́ Госпо́дь Сио́на, изво́ли и́ в жили́ще Себе́.
Се́й поко́й мо́й во ве́к ве́ка, зде́ вселю́ся, я́ко изво́лих и́.
Лови́тву его́ благословля́яй благословлю́, ни́щыя его́ насы́щу хле́бы:
свяще́нники его́ облеку́ во спасе́ние, и преподо́бнии его́ ра́достию возра́дуются.
Та́мо возращу́ ро́г Дави́дови, угото́вах свети́лник пома́занному Моему́.
Враги́ его́ облеку́ студо́м, на не́м же процвете́т святы́ня моя́.