Psalms 123
A song of ascents asking God for mercy amid scorn.
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.
> To you I do lift up my eyes, You who sit in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; So our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, Until he has mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, Yahweh, have mercy on us, For we have endured much contempt.
Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, With the contempt of the proud.