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Psalm 123:3
Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.
1A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to you, you who sit in the heavens.
2Behold, 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 on us.
3Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.
4Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.
Notice
The repeated plea for mercy carries the weariness of people who have endured contempt and have reached for God with the same words again.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What contempt have you endured that you want to name before YHWH?
Write on thisWho comes to mind when you pray the words “Have mercy on us”?
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Where else Scripture says this
11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Luke 18:11–13The Pharisee stood and prayed by himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men: extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like …The Pharisee’s prayer speaks with disdain for others, while Psalm 123 asks God for mercy amid contempt.
Psalm 57:1For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for …Both prayers repeat their appeal for mercy, turning to God while the suffering that prompted them remains.
Psalm 89:50–51Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples,Both prayers bring the contempt borne by God’s servants before the Lord and ask him to respond.
Nehemiah 4:2–4He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they …Nehemiah records mocking questions about the Jews and their work; Psalm 123 names the burden of enduring contempt.
Lamentations 3:30Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him. Let him be filled full of reproach.Both texts describe bearing reproach, though Lamentations also speaks of being struck and Psalm 123 pleads for mercy.
Job 19:15Psalm 123 names contempt; Job describes estrangement within his own household, another form of painful treatment by others.
Isaiah 53:3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn’t …Both texts describe people being despised, with Isaiah portraying rejection and Psalm 123 voicing a plea amid contempt.
Luke 16:14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him.Luke records the Pharisees scoffing at Jesus, the kind of contempt Psalm 123 brings before God.
Psalm 69:13–16But as for me, my prayer is to you, LORD, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.Both prayers turn to the LORD for help, appealing to his mercy or the abundance of his loving kindness.
Psalm 4:1For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David. Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy …Both psalms ask God for mercy from within distress, bringing their need to him in direct prayer.
Luke 23:35The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen …The rulers’ scoffing at Jesus displays contempt; Psalm 123 speaks from the position of those who endure it.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. work conflict. church hurt.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The contempt remains unresolved in this verse. Yet the repeated plea is addressed to YHWH, whom the psalm names as the one seated in heaven.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).