Psalm 123 is a short, humble prayer of a people who find themselves under the contempt and ridicule of the arrogant. The psalmist lifts his eyes to God, who sits enthroned in heaven, comparing the people's dependence to that of servants looking toward the hand of their master. It is a persistent plea for mercy, as the community has endured more than enough scorn from those at ease. The psalm serves as a model of looking upward for hope when the world offers only disdain.
I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female servant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy.
Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt.
We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant and of contempt from the proud.
