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Psalm 123:4
Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.
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
Scoffing has filled the speakers beyond what they can bear, while those who scorn them remain at ease, untouched by the weight of their words.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What contempt has left you feeling full, with no room for another cutting word?
Write on thisHow does the scoffers’ ease affect the way you bring your hurt to God?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 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
Job 12:5In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.Both passages connect being at ease with contempt toward people who suffer.
Psalm 119:51The arrogant mock me excessively, but I don’t swerve from your law.Both describe excessive mockery from the proud; Psalm 119 also names the speaker’s refusal to leave God’s law.
Psalm 17:10They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.Both describe pride expressed through speech, with Psalm 17 also naming the speakers’ callous hearts.
Acts 17:32Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We want to hear you again concerning this.”Mockery appears in both passages; Acts identifies the resurrection of the dead as what some hearers mock.
1 Corinthians 4:13Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.Both speak from within shared humiliation, describing people treated with contempt.
Isaiah 32:11Tremble, you women who are at ease! Be troubled, you careless ones! Strip yourselves, make yourselves naked, and put sackcloth on your waist.Both mention people who are at ease; Isaiah commands them to mourn, while the psalm describes their scoffing.
Nehemiah 2:19But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed us and despised us, and said, “What is this …Both describe a group enduring ridicule and contempt, with Nehemiah naming the people who despise them.
Acts 26:24As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!”Both portray demeaning speech directed at others; Acts records Festus insulting Paul during his defense.
Amos 6:1Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who are secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of …Both mention people at ease in a setting of rebuke or complaint; Amos pronounces woe, while the psalm names their contempt.
Psalm 73:5–9They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.Both describe people whose lives appear free from trouble; the supplied Psalm 73 verse does not mention their contempt.
Isaiah 32:9Rise up, you women who are at ease! Hear my voice! You careless daughters, give ear to my speech!Both mention people at ease; Isaiah demands their attention, while the psalm describes contempt coming from such people.
Jeremiah 48:11“Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled on his dregs, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither has he gone into captivity; …Ease is the shared thread: Jeremiah describes Moab’s long undisturbed condition, while the psalm describes scoffers who are at ease.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. work conflict. church hurt.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The psalm ends with contempt still weighing on its speakers. Your prayer need not pretend the hurt has passed; their appeal to God for mercy includes how much they have endured.
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).