Psalms 123:4

4 Our soul has had more than its fill of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.

Psalms 123:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 123:4

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that
are at ease
That are in easy and affluent circumstances; abound in the things of this world, and have more than heart can wish; have no outward trouble, as other men, or as the saints have; nor any uneasiness of mind, on account of sin and their eternal state: they have been at ease from their youth; Satan, that has the possession of them, keeps the goods in peace; and their consciences are seared as with a red hot iron, and they are past feeling; though they are far from having any true solid peace of mind: and such persons are generally scorners of the saints, and load them with their gibes and jeers in a most insolent manner; which makes it very irksome and grievous to bear;

[and] with the contempt of the proud:
who are proud of their natural abilities; of their wealth and riches, and of their honours and high places: and such are generally scorners, and deal in proud wrath; and, through their pride, persecute the poor saints with their reproaches, and by other ways; see ( Proverbs 21:24 ) ( Psalms 10:2 ) . Some understand by these characters, "that are at ease", or "quiet" F6, and are "proud", or "excellent" F7, as the phrases may be rendered, such described by them as are the objects, and not the authors, of scorn and contempt; even the saints, who are the quiet in the land, and the excellent in the earth; those precious sons of Zion, who are disesteemed by the men of the world, ( Psalms 35:20 ) ( 16:2 ) ( Lamentations 4:1 Lamentations 4:2 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Mynnavh) "pacatorum", Montanus; "tranquillorum", Piscator, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis.
F7 (Mynwyag) "excellentium", Hammond; a rad. (hag) "eminuit", Gejerus; so an eminent Rabbi with the Jews is called "Gaon", as R. Saadiah Gaon

Psalms 123:4 In-Context

1 To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
2 As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until he has mercy upon us.
3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.
4 Our soul has had more than its fill of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.