ASV
Psalms 123
1[A Song of Ascents]. Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that sittest in the heavens.
2Behold, as the eyes of servants [look] unto the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid unto the hand of her mistress; So our eyes [look] unto Jehovah our God, Until he have mercy upon us.
3Have mercy upon us, O Jehovah, have mercy upon us; For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
4Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scoffing of those that are at ease, And with the contempt of the proud.
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Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Psalm 123:3, 4
Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt. / We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.
Contempt: Causes Saints to Cry to God Psalm 123:3
Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt.
Contempt: Pride and Prosperity Prompt To Psalm 123:4
We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.
Desire: Spiritual Psalm 123:1, 2
A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven. / As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.
Gentiles: Hated and Despised the Jews Psalm 123:3
Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt.
Heaven: God's Dwelling Place Psalm 123:1
A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.
Psalms: Afflictions Psalm 123:1
A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.
Scorning and Mocking: The Wicked Indulge In, Against: Saints Psalm 123:4
We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.
Servant: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Psalm 123:2
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.
Servants: Duties of, to Masters: To Attend to Their Call Psalm 123:2
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.
The Eye: The Jews: Raised Up, in Prayer Psalm 123:1
A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.
The Hands: Servants Directed by Movements of Psalm 123:2
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.
Waiting for Mercy Psalm 123:2
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.
Waiting Upon God: For: Mercy Psalm 123:2
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.
Waiting Upon God: Illustrated Psalm 123:2
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.
Waiting: Illustrated Psalm 123:2
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.
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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
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Psalms 123:1-999 Chapter 123
Confidence in God under contempt. --Our Lord Jesus has taught us to look unto God in prayer as our Father in heaven. In every prayer a good man lifts up his soul to God; especially when in trouble. We desire mercy from him; we hope he will show us mercy, and we will continue waiting on him till it come. The eyes of a servant are to his master's directing hand, expecting that he will appoint him his work. And also to his supplying hand. Servants look to their master or their mistress for their portion of meat in due season. And to God we must look for daily bread, for grace sufficient; from him we must receive it thankfully. Where can we look for help but to our Master? And, further, to his protecting hand. If the servant is wronged and injured in his work, who should right him, but his master? And to his correcting hand. Whither should sinners turn but to him that smote them? They humble themselves under God's mighty hand. And lastly, to his rewarding hand. Hypocrites look to the world's hand, thence they have their reward; but true Christians look to God as their Master and their Rewarder. God's people find little mercy with men; but this is their comfort, that with the Lord there is mercy. Scorning and contempt have been, are, and are likely to be, the lot of God's people in this world. It is hard to bear; but the servants of God should not complain if they are treated as his beloved Son was. Let us then, when ready to faint under trials, look unto Jesus, and by faith and prayer cast ourselves upon the mercy of God.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.
Psalms 123:1 An earnest and expecting prayer for divine aid in distress.
(Compare Ps 121:1). thou that dwellest--literally, "sittest as enthroned" (compare Ps 2:4; 113:4, 5).
Psalms 123:2 An earnest and expecting prayer for divine aid in distress.
Deference, submission, and trust, are all expressed by the figure. In the East, servants in attending on their masters are almost wholly directed by signs, which require the closest observance of the hands of the latter. The servants of God should look (1) to His directing hand, to appoint them their work; (2) to His supplying hand (Ps 104:28), to give them their portion in due season; (3) to His protecting hand, to right them when wronged; (4) to His correcting hand (Isa 9:13; 1Pe 5:6; compare Ge 16:6); (5) to His rewarding hand.
Psalms 123:3 An earnest and expecting prayer for divine aid in distress.
contempt--was that of the heathen, and, perhaps, Samaritans (Ne 1:3; 2:19).
Psalms 123:4 An earnest and expecting prayer for divine aid in distress.
of those that are at ease--self-complacently, disregarding God's law, and despising His people. PSALM 124