Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt.
Parallel translations
- WEB Have mercy on us, Yahweh, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.
- KJV Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
- NKJV Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
- NASB ¶Be gracious to us, Lord, be gracious to us, For we have had much more than enough of contempt.
- NLT Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy, for we have had our fill of contempt.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
He pleads urgently for God's mercy because they have suffered much contempt. In scorn and disdain, the people cry for God's compassion.
Overview
The doubled cry 'Have mercy on us' conveys urgency as the people groan under 'much contempt.' Their only recourse against scorn is God's mercy. This appeal anticipates the gospel, where God answers the humble cry for mercy with the grace lavished in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Luke 18:11–13The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
- Ps 57:1For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed.
- Ps 89:50–51Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants, which I bear in my heart from so many people—
- Neh 4:2–4before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”
- Ps 56:1–2For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack.
- Luke 23:35The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
- Isa 53:3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
- Ps 4:1For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer.
- Luke 16:14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.
- Ps 69:13–16But my prayer to You, O LORD, is for a time of favor. In Your abundant loving devotion, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation.
- Ps 44:13–16You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, a mockery and derision to those around us.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 123:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.