Commentary

Psalm 123

The Geneva Bible Notes (1599)

The margin notes of the Bible the Puritans and Shakespeare read, by English Reformers in exile. Each verse is printed with its notes.

Verse 2

Behold, as the eyes of {a} 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.
(a) He compares the condition of the godly, to servants who are destitute of all help, assuring that when all other help fails, God is always at hand and like himself.

Verses 3–4

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are {b} exceedingly filled with contempt.
(b) He declares that when the faithful are so full that they cannot endure the oppression and scorning of the wicked any more, there is always help above, if with hungry desires they call for it.

The Geneva Bible Notes (1599). Public domain, from the CrossWire SWORD module.