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The text is a persuasive to contentment and satisfaction with Divine providence, which permits wicked men to flourish for awhile, enforced with this reason, that there is a reward laid up for all such as trust in God and meekly submit to His will.

1. Let the times be never so perilous and dangerous, yet God's providence ought not to be questioned by us, whatever its unequal distributions be. Answering the objection that, if God's providence governs all the issues and events of things, virtue should never go unrewarded, plead that there is no man but has grievously sinned against the Lord. Therefore they can have no cause to question His justice in their suffering. Besides this, it may be urged that affliction is a proof of God's tender love and kindness; that the prosperity of the wicked often turns to their hurt and disadvantage; and that the day of judgment will set all things right.

2. Show how we are to demean ourselves under the actual oppressions of prosperous wickedness. The best course for a man to take is to hold himself to God, to trust in Him, and order himself according to His will.

3. We must not go out of the road of duty, and do as the wicked do, because we see them prosper.

4. The flourishing condition of the wicked is but short-lived, and therefore not to be envied.

5. There is an assured reward, if ye have patience awhile, and meekly submit to the will of God in His providential administrations. Then seek to live so that God may bless you with the continuance of His blessings.

( T. Knaggs, M.A.)

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KJV: Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

WEB: Don't let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Yahweh all the day long.