Psalms 123:3

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 123:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Have mercy upon us, O Jehovah, have mercy upon us; For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Have mercy upon us, O Jehovah, have mercy upon us; For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Psalms 123:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 123

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3Have mercy upon us, O Jehovah, have mercy upon us; For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, etc.] Merit is not pleaded; for, though servants, they knew they were unprofitable ones: but mercy is asked; whether by the awakened sinner, under first convictions, or by the backsliding professor, for forgiveness of sins, under a sense of them, or as under the correcting: and chastising hand of God for them: and which is repeated, to show the state of their case, which requires mercy, and in haste; and the eagerness of their spirit, and the earnestness of their suit, their prayer being the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man; for we are exceedingly filled with contempt; by reason of meanness in outward circumstances, the common lot of…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us - The language of earnest pleading, repeating with emphasis the object of the prayer. The supplicants are represented as standing and urging this petition, feeling that help could come only from God; looking only to him; and watching his countenance, as servants do their master’s. For we are exceedingly filled - The Hebrew word used here means to be saturated; to have the appetite fully satisfied - as applied to one who is hungry or thirsty. Then it comes to mean to be entirely full, and the idea here is, that as much contempt had been thrown upon them as could be; they could experience no more. With contempt - Contempt has been shown us in…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Have mercy: Psa 56:1, Psa 56:2, Psa 57:1, Psa 69:13-16; Luk 18:11-13 for we are: Psa 44:13-16, Psa 89:50, Psa 89:51; Neh 4:2-4; Isa 53:3; Luk 16:14, Luk 23:35 Psalms 123:4”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The second strophe takes up the "be gracious unto us" as it were in echo. It begins with a Kyrie eleison, which is confirmed in a crescendo manner after the form of steps. The church is already abundantly satiated with ignominy. רב is an abstract "much," and רבּה, Psa 62:3, something great (vid., Bצttcher, Lehrbuch, ֗624). The subjectivizing, intensive להּ accords with Psa 120:6 \- probably an indication of one and the same author. בּוּז is strengthened by לעג, like בּז in Eze 36:4. The article of הלּעג is restrospectively demonstrative: full of such scorn of the haughty (Ew. ֗290, d). הבּוּז is also retrospectively demonstrative; but since a repetition of the article for the fourth time…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification