Psalms 123

A song of ascents asking God for mercy amid scorn.

Psalms 123 - Eyes Lifted to the Lord

Psalm 123 is a short song of ascents in which the psalmist lifts his eyes to God "that dwellest in the heavens," comparing Israel's watchfulness to a servant's eyes fixed on a master's hand. It pairs naturally with the upward gaze of Psalms 121:1, another ascents psalm that opens by looking to the hills and to the Lord.


A Song of degrees. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.

The chapter closes with a doubled plea, "have mercy upon us," as the psalmist admits Israel is "exceedingly filled with contempt" from those at ease. Explore the surrounding songs of ascent on the <a href="/bible/kjva/psalms">Psalms overview</a>, or read on to <a href="/bible/kjva/psalms/chapter-124">Psalms 124</a>, where the tone shifts to thanksgiving for rescue.