Psalms 123 · Verse 2

Psalms 123:2

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.
Psalms 123:2, King James Version

Psalms 123:2 in other translations

BSBAs the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.
WEBBehold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, 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.
ASVBehold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid unto the hand of her mistress; So our eyes look unto Jehovah our God, Until he have mercy upon us.
YLTLo, as eyes of men-servants Are unto the hand of their masters, As eyes of a maid-servant Are unto the hand of her mistress, So are our eyes unto Jehovah our God, Till that He doth favour us.
DARBYBehold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are directed to Jehovah our God, until he be gracious unto us.
BBESee! as the eyes of servants are turned to the hands of their masters, and the eyes of a servant-girl to her owner, so our eyes are waiting for the Lord our God, till he has mercy on us.
WebsterBehold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until he shall have mercy upon us.

What does Psalms 123:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. Deference, submission, and trust, are all expressed by the figure. In the East, servants in attending on their masters are almost wholly directed by signs, which require the closest observance of the hands of the latter. The servants of God should look (1) to His directing hand, to appoint them their work; (2) to His supplying hand (Psa 104:28), to give them their portion in due season; (3) to His protecting hand, to right them when wronged; (4) to His correcting hand (Is 9:13; 1Pe 5:6; compare Ge 16:6); (5) to His rewarding hand.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 As the eyes of servants - We now wait for thy commands, feeling the utmost readiness to obey them when made known to us. The words may be understood as the language of dependence also. As slaves expect their support from their masters and mistresses, so do we ours from thee, O Lord! Or, As servants look to their masters and mistresses, to see how they do their work, that they may do it in the same way; so do we, O Lord, that we may learn of thee, and do thy work in thy own Spirit, and after thy own method. Some think that there is a reference here to the chastisement of slaves by their masters, who, during the time they are receiving it, keep their eyes fixed on the hand that is inflicting punishment upon them, professing deep sorrow, and entreating for mercy. And this sense seems to be countenanced by the following words: -

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Psalms 123:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הִנֵּ֨הhi.Nehhere!H2009
כְעֵינֵ֪יkhe.'ei.Neilike [the] eyes ofH5869
עֲבָדִ֡ים'a.va.DimslavesH5650
אֶל\־'el-[which are] toH413
יַ֤דyad[the] hand ofH3027
אֲֽדוֹנֵיהֶ֗ם'ado.nei.Hemmaster<s> theirH113
כְּעֵינֵ֣יke.'ei.Neilike [the] eyes ofH5869
שִׁפְחָה֮shif.Chaha female slaveH8198
אֶל\־'el-[which are] toH413
יַ֪דyad[the] hand ofH3027
גְּבִ֫רְתָּ֥הּge.Vir.Tahmistress herH1404
כֵּ֣ןkensoH3651
עֵ֭ינֵינוּ'Ei.nei.nueyes ourH5869
אֶל\־'el-[are] toH413
יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuGod ourH430
עַ֝֗ד'AduntilH5704
שֶׁיְּחָנֵּֽנוּ\׃shei.ye.cha.Ne.nuthat he will show favor to usH2603

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 123:2

  • Psalms 130:5-6

    I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

  • Lamentations 3:25-26

    The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

  • Psalms 25:15

    Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

  • Psalms 40:1-3

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

  • Genesis 49:18

    I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord.

  • Psalms 119:123-125

    Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

  • Luke 18:1

    And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

  • Genesis 32:26

    And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

  • Joshua 10:6

    And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.

  • Joshua 9:27

    And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

  • Psalms 119:82

    Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

  • Joshua 9:23

    Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
as the eyes.
Jos 9:23,27; 10:6
so our eyes.
40:1-3; 119:82,123-125; 130:5,6; Ge 32:26; 49:18; La 3:25,26
Lu 18:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 123:1

    A Song of degrees. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

  • Psalms 123:2

    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.

  • Psalms 123:3

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

Read all of Psalms 123

Psalms 123:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		He aquí como los ojos de los siervos miran á la mano de sus señores, y como los ojos de la sierva á la mano de su señora; así nuestros ojos miran á Jehová nuestro Dios, hasta que haya misericordia de nosotros.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Voici, comme les yeux des serviteurs regardent à la main de leurs maîtres, comme les yeux de la servante à la main de sa maîtresse, ainsi nos yeux regardent à l’ Éternel, notre Dieu, jusqu’à ce qu’il use de grâce envers nous.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Siehe, wie die Augen der Knechte auf die Hand ihres Herrn, wie die Augen der Magd auf die Hand ihrer Gebieterin, also sind unsere Augen gerichtet auf Jehova, unseren Gott, bis er uns gnädig ist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		nisi quia Dominus erat in nobis: cum exsurgerent homines in nos,