For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Parallel translations
- WEB For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- KJV For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- NKJV For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- NASB For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- NLT For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
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
His near fall came from envying the arrogant when he saw how the wicked prospered.
Overview
Asaph names the root of his struggle: envy at the apparent ease and success of ungodly people. The prosperity of the wicked has long troubled the faithful. This honest naming of temptation prepares the way for the corrective vision he will later receive in God's sanctuary, where eternal realities reframe earthly appearances.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Job 21:7Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
- Jer 12:1Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
- Prov 23:17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
- Ps 37:7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
- Ps 37:1Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
- Prov 24:1Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
- Prov 3:31Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
- Jas 4:5Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
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 73:3 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.