For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is that the psalmist admits to envying not just their wealth, but their "peace." This reveals a deeper struggle than just wanting what they have; he was questioning if God's favor or even God's justice was real when the wicked seemed so untroubled. This temptation to doubt God's goodness when observing worldly success is a profound spiritual battle we can still face today.
For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist, Asaph, is grappling with a profound spiritual crisis. He begins by affirming God's goodness, but immediately confesses how the apparent success and ease of wicked people nearly caused him to abandon his faith. He describes how seeing the ungodly flourish, free from the troubles that afflict the righteous, made him question God's justice and providence.
Have you ever looked at people who seem to be living their best lives – wealthy, healthy, and seemingly without a care – while you're navigating struggles? The Psalmist felt that sting.
The verse zeroes in on the "arrogant" (or "foolish" in some translations) prosperity of the wicked. This isn't just about them having money; it's about their attitude that comes with it.
A Gilded Cage
The commentaries highlight that this prosperity often breeds pride and a sense of untouchability. They're not just succeeding; they're often flaunting it, acting as if they're above consequence or divine oversight. This outward appearance can be deeply misleading and incredibly tempting to question God's fairness.
More Than Just Wealth
When the Psalmist saw their "prosperity," it wasn't just about riches. It included their apparent peace, their freedom from the common troubles that plague us, and sometimes even a calm demeanor in the face of death. This complete package of apparent well-being, displayed by those who disregard God, is what fuels the envy.
It's so easy to get tunnel vision, focusing only on what others have that we lack. This verse reveals how dangerous that kind of focus can be for our faith.
The core of this verse is the Psalmist's personal struggle. He wasn't just observing; he was feeling envy. This inward turmoil stemmed from comparing his own walk with God – presumably one that involved challenges and perhaps hardship – to the seemingly easy, successful path of the wicked.
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The Slippery Slope of Doubt
This comparison is a slippery slope that can lead to serious doubt. When the visible evidence (the wicked prospering) seems to contradict the invisible truth (God's goodness and justice), faith begins to waver. The Psalmist was almost swept away by this temptation, questioning God's governance and the value of righteousness.
Real Faith Isn't About Easy Street
What the Psalmist eventually learned, and what this verse sets the stage for, is that true blessedness isn't found in earthly prosperity. It's found in God Himself. Envy blinds us to this deeper reality, making us focus on the temporary and the superficial, rather than the eternal and the essential.
Understand the original words
qānāʾ · Hebrew Verb
To show jealousy or resentment toward another's success or status. In a biblical context, it often refers to a sinful discontentment with God's providential distribution of blessings.
hōlēl · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who act with hubris or boastful pride, specifically in defiance of God. They are characterized by a self-sufficient attitude that rejects divine authority.
šālōm · Hebrew Noun
The state of being successful, flourishing, or having peace in worldly affairs. It often serves as a point of contention when observed in those who disregard God's law.
rāšāʿ · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who violate God's moral order. It refers to individuals who live in habitual, unrepentant opposition to divine justice and righteousness.
The prosperity of the wicked was a long-standing theological and social problem in ancient Israel, exacerbated by periods of exile and national upheaval. This psalm, attributed to the time of Davidic worship, captures a moment of intense personal struggle with this issue, reflecting a faith crisis prompted by observing the godless seemingly thrive.
c. 10th-7th century BC
Davidic Monarchy and Divided Kingdom
This period saw the height of Israelite power under David and Solomon, followed by the division into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and Southern Kingdom (Judah). The presence of a centralized monarchy and religious system provided a context for psalms reflecting on justice and societal well-being.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Conquest
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its population. This event would have deeply shaken faith and raised questions about God's faithfulness and the prosperity of the wicked.
c. 605-586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Southern Kingdom of Judah faced repeated deportations by the Babylonian Empire, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. This period of profound national trauma and loss intensified the struggle with the apparent success of the ungodly.
Post-Exilic Period
Return from Exile and Temple Reconstruction
After the Babylonian exile, some Israelites returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and their community. This era was marked by challenges in re-establishing justice and order, and the psalm likely reflects on the ongoing tension between faith and observable injustice.
Likely 10th Century BC— this verse
Asaph's musical leadership
The psalm is attributed to Asaph, a Levite musician and contemporary of King David, who led worship in the Jerusalem Temple. This places the psalm's origin within the context of Israel's established worship and its grappling with theological and social issues.
This verse shares the same theme of envy towards the wicked when observing their prosperity, directly linking to the psalmist's struggle in Psalm 73:3.
Job 21:7-13Job grapples with the very same perplexing question of why the wicked prosper and seem to live lives free from hardship, echoing the psalmist's observations.
Jeremiah 12:1-4Jeremiah questions God's ways because of the prosperity of the wicked, revealing a recurring prophetic struggle with this divine paradox.
Galatians 5:17This passage speaks of the ongoing conflict between the desires of the flesh and the Spirit, which can be exacerbated by seeing the apparent success of those living according to the flesh.
Proverbs 23:17This verse serves as a warning against envying sinners, directly addressing the temptation that the psalmist experienced and that is central to Psalm 73:3.
jfbPsalms 73:3: "For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
3-9. The prosperous wicked are insolently proud (compare Ps 5:5). They die, as well as live, free from perplexities: pride adorns them, and violence is their clothing; indeed they are inflated with unexpected success. With all this—
ellicottPsalms 73:3: "For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
(3) Foolish. —Better, arrogant. When I saw.—Perhaps the conjunction is wrongly supplied, and the word “saw” here is synonymous with “envied” in the first clause. (Comp. Latin invideo.)
What's striking here is that the psalmist admits to envying not just their wealth, but their "peace." This reveals a deeper struggle than just wanting what they have; he was questioning if God's favor or even God's justice was real when the wicked seemed so untroubled. This temptation to doubt God's goodness when observing worldly success is a profound spiritual battle we can still face today.
The psalmist, Asaph, is grappling with a profound spiritual crisis. He begins by affirming God's goodness, but immediately confesses how the apparent success and ease of wicked people nearly caused him to abandon his faith. He describes how seeing the ungodly flourish, free from the troubles that afflict the righteous, made him question God's justice and providence.
The psalmist, Asaph, is grappling with a profound spiritual crisis. He begins by affirming God's goodness, but immediately confesses how the apparent success and ease of wicked people nearly caused him to abandon his faith. He describes how seeing the ungodly flourish, free from the troubles that afflict the righteous, made him question God's justice and providence.
"For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." — What's striking here is that the psalmist admits to envying not just their wealth, but their "peace." This reveals a deeper struggle than just wanting what they have; he was questioning if God's favo…
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Last reviewed October 2026