Psalm 73:3

3 For I was ¹envious of the arrogant As I saw the ²prosperity of the wicked.

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 Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!

2 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped.

3 For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no pains in their death, And their body is fat.

5 They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like mankind.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 37:1; Proverbs 23:17
• 2. Job 21:7; Psalms 37:7; Jeremiah 12:1

Footnotes

• [a] Or "boasters"