About Psalms

Psalms is Israel's hymnbook and prayer book, expressing the full range of human emotion in relationship with God, from deep lament to exuberant praise.

Author: David and othersWritten: c. 1410-450 BCReading time: ~1 minVerses: 4
WorshipPrayerPraiseLamentTrustMessianic Prophecy

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Jerusalem(Settlement)

King James Version

Psalms 123

4 verses with commentary

Our Eyes Look to the Lord

1

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

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KJV Study Commentary

The psalm opens with eyes lifted heavenward: 'Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.' The upward gaze signifies dependence, expectation, and worship. Eyes naturally turn to sources of help; lifting them to heaven acknowledges that ultimate help comes not from horizontal sources (other people, circumstances) but from God alone. The phrase 'that dwellest in the heavens' ...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(1) **O thou that dwellest.**—*O thou throned one.*

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**2. great in Zion--**where He dwells (Psa 9:11).
2

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.

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KJV Study Commentary

A simile illustrates dependent watching: '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.' The double comparison (male servants, female maidens) emphasizes universality - all who depend on masters exhibit this attentive watching. Servants watch t...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(2) **Eyes.**—As the eyes of the slave are fixed on the *hand *of the master or mistress, waiting for a sign or direction, so Israel waits, expectant of the hint of Divine interference to deliver from the tyrant. The picture will be so familiar to readers of Oriental stories as hardly to need actual illustration; but Savary’s (*Letters on Egypt, *p. 135, quoted by Perowne) description exactly repr...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**3. thy ... name--**perfections of justice, power, &c. **great and terrible name--**producing dread (De 10:17), and to be praised by those over whom He is exalted (Psa 97:9). **it is holy--**or, "He is holy" (Psa 99:5, 9; Is 6:3).
3

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

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KJV Study Commentary

The cry for mercy intensifies: 'Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.' The double plea 'have mercy...have mercy' expresses desperation. Hebrew 'chanan' (have mercy) denotes gracious favor undeserved by the recipient. The reason follows: 'we are exceedingly filled with contempt.' The word 'exceedingly' (Hebrew 'rav') means abundant, great, much...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(3) **Exceedingly filled.**—Or, *sated more than enough.*

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

4-5. To His wise and righteous government all nations should render honor. **king's ... judgment--**His power is combined with justice. **he is holy--**(compare Psa 22:3).
4

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

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KJV Study Commentary

The source of contempt is identified: 'Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.' The word 'soul' (nephesh) represents the whole person - the mockery has penetrated deeply, affecting emotions, thoughts, and will. Two groups oppress: 'those that are at ease' (comfortable, prosperous, secure in their position) and 'the proud' (arr...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(4) **The scorning.**—The Hebrew offers a rare use of the article—probably it should be reproduced by our demonstrative, *this scorning. *The LXX., however, have, “The scorn for those at ease, and the contempt for the proud,” which requires only the substitution of a letter, removes an anomaly in construction, and gives a better sense: “Let our desire be satisfied to the full with the scorn for th...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

4-5. To His wise and righteous government all nations should render honor. **king's ... judgment--**His power is combined with justice. **he is holy--**(compare Psa 22:3).

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