John Gill Commentary Psalms 123:4

"Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scoffing of those that are at ease, And with the contempt of the proud." — Psalms 123:4 (ASV)

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 4:1Lamentations 4:2) .

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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