Verse

Psalm 73:6

ESV Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.
NIV Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
NASB Therefore arrogance is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them.
CSB Therefore, pride is their necklace, and violence covers them like a garment.
NLT They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.
KJV Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

What does Psalm 73:6 mean?

Almost worse that seeing immoral people live in prosperity is when those same people are arrogant and obnoxious. They take the credit for their wealth and health, flaunting their status like jewelry. Some embrace their sinful ways, proudly showing them off as if modeling clothing.

While some righteous people are wealthy, their numbers are few compared with those who have a modest income. Righteous people—wealthy or not—recognize that God is the giver of their wealth and health. God-fearing people humbly ascribe praise to Him and serve as good stewards of what they have received. However, the prosperous wicked (Psalm 73:3) refuse to acknowledge God as the giver of their good fortune. They boast that they acquired everything by their own intelligence and efforts.

In Asaph's era, it would not have been unusual for the rich to acquire their status through forms of violence. They misused their servants, took advantage of the poor, and some might have killed innocent people to get rich. The apostle James condemned the rich who oppressed poor believers. He wrote: "Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called"? (James 2:6–7).
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