Self-Interpreting Bible

Psalms 123

[1]The godly profess their confidence in God, [3]and pray to be delivered from contempt.

A Song of degrees.

1. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

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.

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

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

Metrical version

Psalm 123

C.M. Dundee

O thou that dwellest in the heav'ns,
I lift mine eyes to thee.
Behold, as servants' eyes do look
their masters' hand to see,

As handmaid's eyes her mistress' hand;
so do our eyes attend
Upon the LORD our God, until
to us he mercy send.

O LORD, be gracious to us,
unto us gracious be;
Because replenished with contempt
exceedingly are we.

Our soul is filled with scorn of those
that at their ease abide,
And with the insolent contempt
of those that swell in pride.

This psalm relates to the distressed situation of the church, and contains, (1.) Earnest longings for, and believing expectations of merciful deliverances from God, ver. 1-2. (2.) An improvement of great distress, as a plea for speedy and remarkable relief, ver. 3-4.

While I sing this, let me, in the full assurance of faith, cry to God, for the mercies which my own soul, my family, and the church and nation wherewith I am connected, so much need. Nor let me accept of a denial of my believing requests.