Eyes Lifted to the Lord
Psalms 122
A Song of Degrees in which the psalmist lifts his eyes to the Lord who dwells in heaven, as a servant looks to the hand of his master, pleading for mercy because his people are filled with the contempt and reproach of the proud.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonTO Thee Who dwellest in heaven, I have raised mine eyes.
BrentonA Song of Degrees. Unto thee who dwellest in heaven have I lifted up mine eyes.
GreekὨδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. Πρὸς σὲ ᾖρα τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου, τὸν κατοικοῦντα ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ.
KJVUnto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
JPSA Song of Ascents. Unto Thee I lift up mine eyes, O Thou that art enthroned in the heavens.
2
ThomsonBehold! as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters—as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God, till He be gracious to us.
BrentonBehold, as the eyes of servants are directed to the hands of their masters, and as the eyes of a maid-servant to the hands of her mistress; so our eyes are directed to the Lord our God, until he have mercy upon us.
GreekἸδοὺ ὡς ὀφθαλμοὶ δούλων εἰς χεῖρας τῶν κυρίων αὐτῶν, ὡς ὀφθαλμοὶ παιδίσκης εἰς χεῖρας τῆς κυρίας αὐτῆς, οὕτως οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἡμῶν πρὸς Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, ἕως οὗ οἰκτειρῆσαι ἡμᾶς.
KJVBehold, 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.
JPSBehold, 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.
3
ThomsonHave mercy on us, O Lord; have mercy on us; for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
BrentonHave pity upon us, O Lord, have pity upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
GreekἘλέησον ἡμᾶς Κύριε, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, ὅτι ἐπὶ πολὺ ἐπλήσθημεν ἐξουδενώσεως.
KJVHave mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
JPSBe gracious unto us, O LORD, be gracious unto us; For we are full sated with contempt.
4
ThomsonOur soul is filled exceedingly—we are the scoff of the prosperous and the contempt of the haughty.
BrentonYea, our soul has been exceedingly filled with it: let the reproach be to them that are at ease, and contempt to the proud.
GreekἘπὶ πλεῖον ἐπλήσθη ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν· τὸ ὄνειδος τοῖς εὐθηνοῦσι καὶ ἡ ἐξουδένωσις τοῖς ὑπερηφάνοις.
KJVOur soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.
JPSOur soul is full sated With the scorning of those that are at ease, And with the contempt of the proud oppressors.