"Wherefore do wicked men live in health and prosperity, come to their old age, and increase in riches? Their children's children live in their sight, and their generation before their eyes. Their houses are safe from all fear, for the rod of God doth not smite them.read more.
Their bullock gendereth, and that not out of time: their cow calveth, and is not unfruitful. They send forth their children by flocks, and their sons lead the dance. They bear with them tabrets and harps, and have instruments of music at their pleasure. They spend their days in wealthiness: but suddenly, they go down to hell.

These two things also have I considered in the time of vanity: that the just man perisheth for his righteousness' sake, and the ungodly liveth in his wickedness.

LORD, how long shall the ungodly, how long shall the ungodly triumph?

"How oft shall the candle of the wicked be put out? How oft cometh their destruction upon them? Oh what sorrow shall God give them for their part in his wrath!

As for the world, he giveth it over into the power of the wicked; and he shall cover the faces of the judges thereof. Is it not so? Where is he - or who is he - that can show the contrary?

And why? I was grieved at the wicked, to see the ungodly in such prosperity. For they are in no peril of death, but stand fast like a palace. They come in no misfortune like other folk; neither are they plagued like other men.read more.
And this is the cause that they be so puffed up in pride, and overwhelmed with cruelty and unrighteousness. Their eyes swell with fatness, and they do even what they lust. They corrupt others, and speak blasphemies maliciously; proud and presumptuous are their words. They stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven, and their tongue goeth through the world.

O LORD, thou art more righteous than that I should dispute with thee: Nevertheless, let me talk with thee in things reasonable. How happeneth it, that the way of the ungodly is so prosperous? And that it goeth so well with them, which without any shame offend and live in wickedness?

Yet is there a vanity upon earth: there be just men, unto whom it happeneth, as though they had the works of the ungodly; Again, there be ungodly, with whom it goeth as though they had the works of the righteous. This me think also a vain thing.

Thinkest thou it well done, to oppress me, to cast me off - being a work of thine hands - and to maintain the counsel of the ungodly?

Thine eyes are clean, thou mayest not see evil, thou cannot behold the thing that is wicked. Wherefore then doest thou look upon the ungodly, and holdest thy tongue, when the wicked devoureth the man that is better than himself?

Moreover, I will give it into the hands of the strangers to be spoiled: and to the wicked for to be robbed, and they shall destroy it.

Should I not be displeased, for the unrighteous good in the houses of the wicked and because the measure is diminished?

Therefore may we say, that the proud are happy, and that they which deal with ungodliness, are set up: for they tempt God and yet escape.'

the praise of the ungodly hath been short, and that the joy of the hypocrites continued but the twinkling of an eye?

that the ungodly are green as grass, and that all the works of wickedness do flourish, to be destroyed forever.