Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
- BSB Behold, these are the wicked—always carefree as they increase their wealth.
- ESV Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.
- NKJV Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches.
- NASB Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.
- NLT Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
These are the wicked: always at ease, they keep increasing in riches.
Overview
Asaph sums up the troubling picture, the ungodly seemingly carefree and ever wealthier. This is the apparent injustice that almost overthrew his faith. The summary sets up the great turning point of the psalm, where the sanctuary gives him an eternal perspective that resolves the tension.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ps 52:7Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
- Jer 5:28They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
- Hos 12:7–8He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
- Luke 16:19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
- Jas 5:1–3Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
- Jer 12:1–2Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?
- Ps 37:35I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
- Jer 5:17And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.
- Ps 62:10Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
- Ps 49:6They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
- Ps 17:14From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 73:12 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.