Verse 1. - Unto thee lift I up mine eyes (comp. Psalm 121:1, where the psalmist "lifted up his eyes" to God's dwelling-place). Now the expression is bolder. The eyes are lifted up to God himself. Oh thou that dwellest in the heavens (comp. Psalm 2:4; Psalm 11:4; Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 66:1).

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.

Verse 3. - Have mercy upon us, O Lord; have mercy upon us. The cry is repeated for greater emphasis. For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. This expression can scarcely be said to fix the date of the psalm, since hatred and contempt were the usual feelings wherewith the Jews were regarded by their neighbors. But the time of Nehemiah would certainly be no unsuitable date (see Nehemiah 4:4).

Verse 4. - Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease; i.e. the careless and irreligious (camp. Isaiah 32:9, 11; Amos 6:1. And with the contempt of the proud. This clause is exegetical of the last, not additional. Translate, the seining of those that are at ease - the contempt of the proud.