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Verse
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Psalm chapter 123

English Standard Version

1 To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! 2Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us. 3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. 4Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.
New International Version

1A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
2As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy. 3Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt. 4We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of contempt from the proud.
New American Standard Bible

1To You I have raised my eyes, You who are enthroned in the heavens! 2Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a female servant to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He is gracious to us. 3Be gracious to us, Lord, be gracious to us, For we have had much more than enough of contempt. 4Our soul has had much more than enough Of the scoffing of those who are at ease, And with the contempt of the proud.
Christian Standard Bible

1A song of ascents. I lift my eyes to you, the one enthroned in heaven.
2Like a servant’s eyes on his master’s hand, like a servant girl’s eyes on her mistress’s hand, so our eyes are on the Lord our God until he shows us favor. 3Show us favor, Lord, show us favor, for we’ve had more than enough contempt. 4We’ve had more than enough scorn from the arrogant and contempt from the proud.
New Living Translation

1I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven. 2We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal. 3Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy, for we have had our fill of contempt. 4We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud and the contempt of the arrogant.
King James Version

1A Song of degrees. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
2Behold, 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.
3Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
4Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.
New King James Version

1{A Song of Ascents.} Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. 2Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He has mercy on us. 3Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. 4Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scorn of those who are at ease, With the contempt of the proud.

What does Psalm chapter 123 mean?

This is one of the songs "of ascents" (Psalm 120—134) used by pilgrims making their way "up" to Mount Zion (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:1) and Jerusalem for annual feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16). The psalm may have been inspired, in part, by Israel's experiences rebuilding the city walls after returning from exile.

Turning to God during a time of stress, the psalmist describes his attitude as watchful and humble. Rather than simply waiting for an answer, he gives active attention. The focus is on the Lord's "hand," suggesting His actions or subtle messages. The writer of the psalm is not merely waiting, or listening, but intent on knowing what the Master will do. The psalmist intends to maintain this approach until the Lord answers. At the same time, the psalmist is respectful (Psalms 123:1–2).

Israel was conquered and scattered by the Babylonian Empire (2 Chronicles 36:17–21). Seventy years later, they began to return and rebuild Jerusalem (Ezra 2:1). This was met with opposition from enemy nations, who laughed at Israel's project (Nehemiah 4:1–4). This may be what inspired the psalmist's frustration at suffering "contempt." This may also refer more generally to the attitude of surrounding nations towards Israel, or to the way wealthy and powerful people look down on the less privileged (Psalm 123:3–4).
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