Psalm 123 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 123:4
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Psalm 123
Eyes waiting for mercy
Verse 123:1 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[123:1] A song of the ascents.
To You I lifted my eyes,
You who are seated in heaven.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[122:1] A song of the ascents.
To You I lifted my eyes,
You who dwell in heaven.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The same upward appeal has Hebrew seated and Greek dwelling.
Verse 123:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[123:2] Look, as slaves’ eyes turn to their masters’ hand,
as a slave woman’s eyes turn to her mistress’s hand,
so our eyes turn to YHWH our God,
until He shows us favor.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[122:2] Look, as slaves’ eyes turn to their masters’ hands,
as a slave woman’s eyes turn to her mistress’s hands,
so our eyes turn to the Lord our God,
until He has compassion on us.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The dependent slave imagery is retained rather than euphemized. Hebrew hand is singular in each comparison; Greek hands is plural. Turn supplies the relation in the verbless eye clauses.
Verse 123:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[123:3] Show us favor, YHWH, show us favor,
for we have had far more than enough contempt.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[122:3] Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
for we have been filled with contempt to excess,
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both repeat the petition and describe being overfilled with contempt; the following Greek clause continues the fullness language.
Verse 123:4 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[123:4] Our very selves have had far more than enough
of the mockery of those at ease,
of the contempt of the proud.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[122:4] Our soul has been filled beyond measure.
Reproach for those who prosper,
and contempt for the proud.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew describes the mockery suffered from the complacent and proud. The accessed Greek punctuation and dative recipients instead give reproach to the prosperous and contempt to the proud after the fullness sentence; its terse nominal clauses are preserved. Hebrew’s final displayed form is construed as the proud, with lexical form open to review.