Psalms 73:12
Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Original Language Analysis
רְשָׁעִ֑ים
Behold these are the ungodly
H7563
רְשָׁעִ֑ים
Behold these are the ungodly
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
3 of 7
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
וְשַׁלְוֵ֥י
who prosper
H7961
וְשַׁלְוֵ֥י
who prosper
Strong's:
H7961
Word #:
4 of 7
tranquil; (in a bad sense) careless; abstractly, security
ע֝וֹלָ֗ם
in the world
H5769
ע֝וֹלָ֗ם
in the world
Strong's:
H5769
Word #:
5 of 7
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
Historical Context
Israel's exile intensified this problem—pagan nations prospered while God's people suffered. This tested faith in God's justice and covenant faithfulness, requiring deeper understanding of eternal realities beyond temporal circumstances.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you maintain eternal perspective when ungodly people prosper materially?
- What is the relationship between worldly success and divine favor—or lack thereof?
- How can you measure true prosperity by spiritual rather than material standards?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The summary 'these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches' restates the problem: wicked people succeed materially. This observation challenged covenant theology that promised blessing for obedience. The psalmist's temptation was concluding that righteousness is futile if wickedness produces prosperity. Yet temporal wealth is fleeting (1 Timothy 6:17), while righteousness produces eternal reward (Matthew 6:19-20). The issue is time-horizon: short-term versus eternal perspective.