Psalm 73:3

3 For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.^[a]

Psalm 73:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 73:3

For I was envious at the foolish
The atheists, as in ( Psalms 14:1 ) , who deny the creation, as Arama; the wicked, as after explained, as all wicked men are, how wise soever they may be in things natural and civil, yet in religious things, in things of a spiritual nature, they have no understanding; they are proud boasters, glory in themselves, and in their outward attainments, as the word ^F4 here used signifies; the external happiness of these, their riches, health, and ease, were envied by the psalmist; see ( Psalms 37:1 ) ,

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked,
or "the peace of the wicked" {e}; with an evil eye. This was the occasion of his slip and fall, this was the temptation he was left unto for a while.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Myllwhb) "in arrogantes", Gejerus; "stolide gloriosos", Michaelis; "at vain glorious fools", Ainsworth.
F5 (Mwlv) "pacem", Pagninus, Musculus, Piscator.

Psalm 73:3 In-Context

1 God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray.

3 For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 They have an easy time until they die, and their bodies are well-fed.

5 They are not in trouble like others; they are not afflicted like most people.

Footnotes

• [a] Ps 37:1; Pr 23:17; 24:1