The big picture
Psalms 123 opens in verse 1 with “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 2 with “Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of…”, and closes in verse 4 with “Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the…” Repeated or prominent terms include eyes, mercy, contempt, exceedingly, filled. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 4Psalms 123:1-4
1–4: Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
Psalms 123:1–4 opens with “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.” and reaches “Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by eyes, mercy, contempt.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.” Naming Unto keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 123:1-4
King James Version1Unto 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 123:1 begins with “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 123:2 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
Psalms 123:4 leaves the reader with “Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words eyes, mercy, contempt, exceedingly, filled, hand help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.