^{7 Ref} Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

^{8 Ref} Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.

^{9 Ref} Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.

^{10 Ref} Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

^{11 Ref} They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.

^{12 Ref} They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

^{13 Ref} They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.

^{14 Ref} And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

^{15 Ref} What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

^{16 Ref} Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

^{17 Ref} How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? That `God' distributeth sorrows in his anger?