Psalms 123 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Key Background

In an ancient household a servant watched the master's hand rather than his face, because instructions were given by gesture, so the image is about close attention and dependence, not fear. After the exile the Jewish community was a minor province with no king and no army, easily mocked by wealthier neighbours such as the Samaritans and the local governors described in Nehemiah. Public shaming carried real weight in this culture, where honour and reputation determined a group's standing far more than wealth did.