¹⁶ He is green before the sun, And his shoots go forth over his garden.

¹¹ It sent out its branches unto the sea, And its shoots unto the River.

³ I have seen the foolish taking root: But suddenly I cursed his habitation.

⁷ Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

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

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

¹⁰ Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

¹¹ They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.

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

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

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

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

³⁵ I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.

³⁶ But one passed by, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

³ For I was envious at the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

⁴ For there are no pangs in their death; But their strength is firm.

⁵ They are not in trouble as `other' men; Neither are they plagued like `other' men.

⁶ Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; Violence covereth them as a garment.

⁷ Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish.

⁸ They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: They speak loftily.

⁹ They have set their mouth in the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth.

¹⁰ Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full `cup' are drained by them.

¹¹ And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?

¹² Behold, these are the wicked; And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.

¹⁶ Jehovah called thy name, A green olive-tree, fair with goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.