Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Wicked people » Prosperity of
[A Psalm of David.] Fret not yourself because of evildoers, neither be you envious of the workers of iniquity.
The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God brings abundantly.
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, who fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he fears not before God.
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are raised up; yea, they that test God are even delivered.
Why do you show me iniquity, and cause me to behold trouble? for plundering and violence are before me: and there are those that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and justice does never go forth: for the wicked does surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation. His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them. Whose harvest the hungry eats up, and takes it even out of the thorns, and the robber swallows up their wealth.
He wanders abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
He shall not be rich, neither shall his wealth continue, neither shall he overspread the earth with it.
In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in distress: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
Why do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Their descendants are established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. read more.
Their bull breeds, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the flute. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
Their bull breeds, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the flute. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
For he sees that wise men die, likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honor abides not: he is like the beasts that perish. read more.
This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pains in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. read more.
Therefore pride surrounds them as a chain; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with abundance: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of your children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely you did set them in slippery places: you cast them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awakes; so, O Lord, when you awake, you shall despise their image. Thus my soul was grieved, and I was pierced in my heart. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before you.
Therefore pride surrounds them as a chain; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with abundance: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of your children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely you did set them in slippery places: you cast them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awakes; so, O Lord, when you awake, you shall despise their image. Thus my soul was grieved, and I was pierced in my heart. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before you.
A senseless man knows not; neither does a fool understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed forever:
Righteous are you, O LORD, when I plead with you: yet let me talk with you of your judgments: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they happy that deal very treacherously? You have planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: you are near in their mouth, and far from their heart.
You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and can not look on iniquity: why do you look upon them that deal treacherously, and hold your tongue when the wicked devours the man that is more righteous than he? And make men like the fish of the sea, like the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? They take up all of them with the hook, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their dragnet: therefore they rejoice and are glad. read more.
Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their dragnet; because by them their portion is luxurious, and their food plentiful. Shall they therefore empty their net, and continually slay the nations without mercy?
Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their dragnet; because by them their portion is luxurious, and their food plentiful. Shall they therefore empty their net, and continually slay the nations without mercy?
Wicked people » Temporal punishment of
Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the flame of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tent, and his lamp shall be put out with him. The steps of his strength shall be shortened, and his own counsel shall cast him down. read more.
For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks upon a snare. The trap shall take him by the heel, and a snare shall lay hold of him. The noose is laid for him on the ground, and a trap for him in the way. Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet. His strength shall be hunger-bitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side. It shall devour patches of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength. His confidence shall be rooted out of his tent, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors. They shall dwell in his tent, who are none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation. His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off. His memory shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street. He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world. He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. They that come after him shall be astounded at his day, as they that went before were frightened. Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knows not God.
For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks upon a snare. The trap shall take him by the heel, and a snare shall lay hold of him. The noose is laid for him on the ground, and a trap for him in the way. Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet. His strength shall be hunger-bitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side. It shall devour patches of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength. His confidence shall be rooted out of his tent, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors. They shall dwell in his tent, who are none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation. His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off. His memory shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street. He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world. He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. They that come after him shall be astounded at his day, as they that went before were frightened. Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knows not God.
Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withheld good things from you.
This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty. If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep. read more.
Though he heap up silver as the dust, and pile up clothing as the clay; He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver. He builds his house like a moth, and like a booth that the keeper makes. The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he opens his eyes, and he is not. Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest steals him away in the night. The east wind carries him away, and he is gone: and as a storm hurls him out of his place. For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would scarcely flee out of his hand. Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.
Though he heap up silver as the dust, and pile up clothing as the clay; He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver. He builds his house like a moth, and like a booth that the keeper makes. The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he opens his eyes, and he is not. Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest steals him away in the night. The east wind carries him away, and he is gone: and as a storm hurls him out of his place. For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would scarcely flee out of his hand. Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.
The wicked man travails with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden for the oppressor. A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him. He believes not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for by the sword. read more.
He wanders abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand. Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready for battle. For he stretches out his hand against God, and strengthens himself against the Almighty. He runs stubbornly against him, with his heavily embossed shield. Because he covers his face with his fatness, and makes heavy fat on his waist. And he dwells in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabits, which are ready to become heaps. He shall not be rich, neither shall his wealth continue, neither shall he overspread the earth with it. He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away. Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for futility shall be his reward. It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green. He shall shake off his unripe grapes like the vine, and shall cast off his blossom like the olive. For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tents of bribery. They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their heart prepares deceit.
He wanders abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand. Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready for battle. For he stretches out his hand against God, and strengthens himself against the Almighty. He runs stubbornly against him, with his heavily embossed shield. Because he covers his face with his fatness, and makes heavy fat on his waist. And he dwells in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabits, which are ready to become heaps. He shall not be rich, neither shall his wealth continue, neither shall he overspread the earth with it. He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away. Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for futility shall be his reward. It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green. He shall shake off his unripe grapes like the vine, and shall cast off his blossom like the olive. For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tents of bribery. They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their heart prepares deceit.
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches unto the clouds; Yet he shall perish forever like his own refuse: they who have seen him shall say, Where is he? read more.
He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him. His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods. His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue; Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth: Yet his food in his body is soured, it is the gall of asps within him. He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him. He shall not see the rivers, the brooks flowing with honey and butter. That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: from the proceeds of business he shall not rejoice. Because he has oppressed and has forsaken the poor; because he has violently taken away a house which he built not; Surely he shall not feel quietness in his heart, he shall not save of that which he desired. There shall none of his food be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods. In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in distress: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of bronze shall strike him through. It is drawn, and comes out of the body; yea, the glittering sword comes out of his gall: terrors are upon him. All darkness shall be laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown upon shall consume him; it shall go ill with him who is left in his tent. The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him. The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him. His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods. His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue; Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth: Yet his food in his body is soured, it is the gall of asps within him. He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him. He shall not see the rivers, the brooks flowing with honey and butter. That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: from the proceeds of business he shall not rejoice. Because he has oppressed and has forsaken the poor; because he has violently taken away a house which he built not; Surely he shall not feel quietness in his heart, he shall not save of that which he desired. There shall none of his food be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods. In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in distress: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of bronze shall strike him through. It is drawn, and comes out of the body; yea, the glittering sword comes out of his gall: terrors are upon him. All darkness shall be laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown upon shall consume him; it shall go ill with him who is left in his tent. The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him. The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
Why do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Their descendants are established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. read more.
Their bull breeds, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the flute. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. How often is the lamp of the wicked put out! and how often comes their destruction upon them! God distributes sorrows in his anger. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away. God lays up his iniquity for his children: he recompenses him, and he shall know it. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. For what pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are on high. One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure. They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which you wrongfully imagine against me. For you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? Have you not asked them that go by the way? and do you not know their evidences, That the wicked are reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done? Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall follow after him, as there are innumerable gone before him.
Their bull breeds, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the flute. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. How often is the lamp of the wicked put out! and how often comes their destruction upon them! God distributes sorrows in his anger. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away. God lays up his iniquity for his children: he recompenses him, and he shall know it. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. For what pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are on high. One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure. They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which you wrongfully imagine against me. For you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? Have you not asked them that go by the way? and do you not know their evidences, That the wicked are reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done? Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall follow after him, as there are innumerable gone before him.
Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed on them. They drive away the donkey of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. They drive the needy off the road: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. read more.
Behold, as wild donkeys in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising early for a prey: the wilderness yields food for them and for their children. They reap every one his grain in the field: and they gather the vineyard of the wicked. They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge from the poor. They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaves from the hungry; Who make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, yet suffer thirst. Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded cries out: yet God charges not folly to them. They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not its ways, nor abide in its paths. The murderer rising with the light kills the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. The eye also of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguises his face. In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one recognizes them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death. They are swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: no one turns into the way of the vineyards. Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so does the grave those who have sinned. The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree. He evil treats the barren that bears not: and does not good to the widow. He draws also the mighty with his power: he rises up, but no man is sure of life. Though it be given him to be in safety, he rests; yet his eyes are upon their ways. They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all others, and cut off as the tops of the ears of grain.
Behold, as wild donkeys in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising early for a prey: the wilderness yields food for them and for their children. They reap every one his grain in the field: and they gather the vineyard of the wicked. They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge from the poor. They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaves from the hungry; Who make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, yet suffer thirst. Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded cries out: yet God charges not folly to them. They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not its ways, nor abide in its paths. The murderer rising with the light kills the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. The eye also of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguises his face. In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one recognizes them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death. They are swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: no one turns into the way of the vineyards. Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so does the grave those who have sinned. The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree. He evil treats the barren that bears not: and does not good to the widow. He draws also the mighty with his power: he rises up, but no man is sure of life. Though it be given him to be in safety, he rests; yet his eyes are upon their ways. They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all others, and cut off as the tops of the ears of grain.
You shall fall by the sword; I will judge you at the border of Israel; and you shall know that I am the LORD.
And say unto the people of the land, Thus says the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink their water with dismay, that their land may be emptied from all who are in it, because of the violence of all them that dwell in it. And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and you shall know that I am the LORD.
And it shall be, that whosoever will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt goes not up, and comes not, they will have no rain; there shall be the plague, with which the LORD will smite the nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.