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.


Unto thee, have I lifted up mine eyes, O thou who art enthroned in the heavens.

Lo! as the eyes of men-servants are unto the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid-servant, unto the hand of her mistress, so, are our eyes, unto Yahweh our God, until that he show us favour.

Show us favour, O Yahweh, show us favour, for, exceedingly, are we sated with contempt:

Exceeding sated therewith, is our soul,—The scorn of the careless, 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/rotherham/psalms">Psalms overview</a>, or read on to <a href="/bible/rotherham/psalms/chapter-124">Psalms 124</a>, where the tone shifts to thanksgiving for rescue.