Psalm 123:2
New International Version
As 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.

New Living Translation
We 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.

English Standard Version
Behold, 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.

Berean Standard Bible
As 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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Behold, 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.

New American Standard Bible
Behold, 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.

NASB 1995
Behold, 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 is gracious to us.

NASB 1977
Behold, 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 shall be gracious to us.

Legacy Standard Bible
Behold, as the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a servant-girl to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to Yahweh our God, Until He is gracious to us.

Amplified Bible
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, And as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He is gracious and favorable toward us.

Christian Standard Bible
Like 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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Like 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.

American Standard Version
Behold, 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.

Contemporary English Version
Servants look to their master, but we will look to you, until you have mercy on us.

English Revised Version
Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look unto the LORD our God, until he have mercy upon us.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As servants depend on their masters, as a maid depends on her mistress, so we depend on the LORD our God until he has pity on us.

Good News Translation
As a servant depends on his master, as a maid depends on her mistress, so we will keep looking to you, O LORD our God, until you have mercy on us.

International Standard Version
Consider this: as the eyes of a servant focus on what his master provides, and as the eyes of a female servant focus on what her mistress provides, so our eyes focus on the LORD our God, until he has mercy on us.

Majority Standard Bible
As 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.

NET Bible
Look, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female servant look to the hand of her mistress, so my eyes will look to the LORD, our God, until he shows us favor.

New Heart English Bible
Look, 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.

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, 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.

World English Bible
Behold, 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 Yahweh, our God, until he has mercy on us.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Behold, as eyes of menservants "" [Are] to the hand of their masters, "" As eyes of a maidservant "" [Are] to the hand of her mistress, "" So [are] our eyes to our God YHWH, "" Until He favors us.

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, 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.

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold, as the eyes of servants to the hand of their lords, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are to Jehovah our God, even till he compassionate us.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold as the eyes of the servants are on the hands of their masters, As the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress: so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Behold, as the eyes of the servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress, so our eyes are upon the Lord our God, until he may be merciful to us.

New American Bible
Yes, 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.

New Revised Standard Version
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 upon us.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Behold, as the eyes of servants look towards their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden look towards her mistress; so also our eyes look towards the LORD our God, until he shall have mercy upon us.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Like the eyes of Servants to their Masters and like the eyes of a Handmaiden to her Mistress, so our eyes are to you, LORD JEHOVAH, our God, until you have mercy upon us!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Behold, as the eyes of servants unto the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; So our eyes look unto the LORD our God, Until He be gracious unto us.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Behold, as the eyes of servants are directed to the hands of their masters, and as the eyes of a maidservant to the hands of her mistress; so our eyes are directed to the Lord our God, until he have mercy upon us.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Lift Up My Eyes to You
1A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven. 2 As 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. 3Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt.…

Cross References
Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.

Lamentations 3:25-26
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. / It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Psalm 25:15
My eyes are always on the LORD, for He will free my feet from the mesh.

Psalm 141:8
But my eyes are fixed on You, O GOD the Lord. In You I seek refuge; do not leave my soul defenseless.

Psalm 130:5-6
I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait, and in His word I put my hope. / My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning—more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Psalm 62:5
Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him.

Psalm 33:18-22
Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion / to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. / Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. ...

Psalm 145:15-16
The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season. / You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Proverbs 8:34
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.

Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Luke 12:36-37
Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. / Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them.

Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

James 5:7-8
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. / You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. / Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.


Treasury of Scripture

Behold, 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 on the LORD our God, until that he have mercy on us.

as the eyes

Joshua 9:23,27
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…

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.

so our eyes

Psalm 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…

Psalm 119:82,123-125
Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? …

Psalm 130:5,6
I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope…

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Psalm 123
1. The godly profess their confidence in God
3. And pray to be delivered from contempt














As the eyes of servants
This phrase draws a vivid picture of the relationship between a servant and their master. In the ancient Near Eastern context, servants were wholly dependent on their masters for provision and protection. The Hebrew word for "servants" here is "עֲבָדִים" (avadim), which implies a sense of duty and loyalty. This imagery suggests a posture of humility and readiness to serve, reflecting the believer's attitude towards God. The servant's eyes are fixed on the master, indicating attentiveness and expectation, a model for how believers should look to God for guidance and sustenance.

look to the hand of their master
The "hand" in biblical terms often symbolizes power, authority, and provision. The Hebrew word "יָד" (yad) is used here, which can denote the physical hand but also represents the actions and decisions of the master. In the cultural context, a servant would look to the master's hand for signals or commands, indicating a readiness to respond. This phrase emphasizes the believer's dependence on God's authority and the expectation of His provision and direction in their lives.

as the eyes of a maidservant
The mention of a "maidservant" (שִׁפְחָה, shifchah) adds another layer to the imagery, highlighting the gender-inclusive nature of servitude and dependence on God. In ancient times, maidservants were often in vulnerable positions, relying entirely on their masters for their well-being. This phrase underscores the theme of trust and reliance, suggesting that all believers, regardless of status or gender, are called to look to God with the same expectancy and trust.

to the hand of her mistress
This phrase parallels the previous one, reinforcing the idea of looking to a higher authority for guidance and provision. The "mistress" (גְּבִרָה, gevirah) represents a figure of authority and care. In the biblical context, the relationship between a maidservant and her mistress would be one of close proximity and daily interaction, symbolizing the intimate relationship believers are invited to have with God. It suggests a personal and direct reliance on God's will and timing.

so our eyes look to the LORD our God
Here, the psalmist makes a direct comparison between the servant-master relationship and the believer's relationship with God. The use of "LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh) is significant, as it is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and commitment to His people. This phrase calls believers to fix their eyes on God with the same intensity and expectation as a servant to a master, trusting in His covenant promises and divine provision.

until He shows us mercy
The plea for "mercy" (חֵן, chen) is central to the psalmist's cry. In the Hebrew context, mercy encompasses compassion, grace, and favor. This phrase indicates a posture of waiting and hope, trusting in God's character as merciful and gracious. The use of "until" suggests perseverance in faith, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their trust in God, confident that He will respond with kindness and compassion in His perfect timing.

(2) Eyes.--As the eyes of the slave are fixed on the hand of the master or mistress, waiting for a sign or direction, so Israel waits, expectant of the hint of Divine interference to deliver from the tyrant. The picture will be so familiar to readers of Oriental stories as hardly to need actual illustration; but Savary's (Letters on Egypt, p. 135, quoted by Perowne) description exactly reproduces the intention of the poet: "The slaves stand silent at the bottom of the rooms, with their hands crossed over their breasts. With their eyes fixed upon their master, they seek to anticipate every one of his wishes." Comp. "Cave oculos a meis oculis quoquam demoveas" (Ter. Adelph. Ii. 1, 16).

Verse 2. - Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters. Watch, i.e., for the slightest sign that he may give of his will. Such signs were usually given by some movement of the "hand." And as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress. Masters were waited on by male slaves; their wives by handmaids - both equally anxious to do their will, and therefore equally watchful of all the signs that indicated it. So our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us. We wait for the least sign that he is about to help and deliver us.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
As the eyes
כְעֵינֵ֪י (ḵə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-k | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of servants
עֲבָדִ֡ים (‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

[look] to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the hand
יַ֤ד (yaḏ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of their master,
אֲ‍ֽדוֹנֵיהֶ֗ם (’ăḏō·w·nê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

as the eyes
כְּעֵינֵ֣י (kə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-k | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of a maidservant
שִׁפְחָה֮ (šip̄·ḥāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8198: Maid, maidservant

[look] to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the hand
יַ֪ד (yaḏ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of her mistress,
גְּבִ֫רְתָּ֥הּ (gə·ḇir·tāh)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1404: Lady, queen, mistress

so
כֵּ֣ן (kên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

our eyes
עֵ֭ינֵינוּ (‘ê·nê·nū)
Noun - cdc | first person common plural
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

are on
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

our God
אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ (’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

until
עַ֝֗ד (‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

He shows us mercy.
שֶׁיְּחָנֵּֽנוּ׃ (še·yə·ḥān·nê·nū)
Pronoun - relative | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural
Strong's 2603: To bend, stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, bestow, to implore


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OT Poetry: Psalm 123:2 Behold as the eyes of servants look (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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