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Psalm 73:12
Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
10Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
11They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
13Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,
14For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.
Notice
The words “increase in riches” sharpen the tension: people named as wicked enjoy ease, while the surrounding lines describe the cost of keeping a clean heart.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What troubles you, if anything, about the link between ease and growing riches here?
Write on thisWhat would you want to say to God after reading verses 12–14 together?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 92:7though the wicked spring up as the grass, and all the evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.Both passages describe the wicked flourishing; Psalm 92 adds that their prosperity ends in destruction.
Psalm 17:14from men by your hand, LORD, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they …Both passages speak of accumulated wealth; Psalm 17 also names a portion in this life and provision for children.
Psalm 73:5They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.Freedom from ordinary burdens in verse 5 explains the ease described in verse 12.
Jeremiah 5:28They have grown fat. They shine; yes, they excel in deeds of wickedness. They don’t plead the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and …Both describe wicked people enjoying prosperity; Jeremiah also names their refusal to defend the fatherless and needy.
Psalm 52:7“Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”Both associate wickedness with abundant riches; Psalm 52 names the choice to trust wealth rather than God.
Hosea 12:7–8A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud.Both place wrongdoing in an economic setting; Hosea names dishonest scales, while the psalm describes the wicked growing richer.
Luke 12:16He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly.Both describe material increase: the wicked gain riches in the psalm, and a rich man’s land produces abundantly in Luke.
Jeremiah 12:1–2You are righteous, LORD, when I contend with you; yet I would like to plead a case with you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are they all at ease …Jeremiah questions why the wicked prosper and live at ease, naming the same tension Psalm 73 describes.
Luke 16:19“Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.Both portray wealth accompanied by ease; Luke describes the rich man’s fine clothing and everyday luxury.
Jeremiah 5:17They will eat up your harvest and your bread, which your sons and your daughters should eat. They will eat up your flocks and your herds. They will eat up your …The link is limited to material goods: Psalm 73 describes increasing wealth, while Jeremiah describes harvests and possessions being taken.
James 5:1–3Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you.Both address riches, with contrasting conditions: ease in Psalm 73 and coming misery for the rich addressed by James.
Malachi 3:15Now we call the proud happy; yes, those who work wickedness are built up; yes, they tempt God, and escape.’Both describe wicked people doing well; Malachi adds the complaint that those who tempt God escape.
Where this verse fits
Envy and comparison. injustice and anger. doubt.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
God’s Word does not hide the ease of people who do wrong. Their growing wealth does not make their wickedness good or settle the worth of faithfulness.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).