scripture

PSALM 123^*

Reliance on the Lord

1A song of ascents.

To you I raise my eyes,

to you enthroned in heaven.^a

2Yes, like the eyes of servants

on the hand of their masters,

Like the eyes of a maid

on the hand of her mistress,

So our eyes are on the LORD our God,

till we are shown favor.

3Show us favor, LORD, show us favor,

for we have our fill of contempt.^b

4Our souls are more than sated

with mockery from the insolent,

with contempt from the arrogant.

* [Psalm 123] A lament that begins as a prayer of an individual (Ps 123:1), who expresses by a touching comparison exemplary confidence in God (Ps 123:2). The Psalm ends in prayer that God relieve the people’s humiliation at the hands of the arrogant (Ps 123:3–4).

a. [123:1] Ps 25:15; 119:82; 141:8.

b. [123:3] Ps 44:13–14; Jb 12:4.