¹⁶ They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine,
    spreading its shoots^(A) over the garden;^(B)

¹¹ Its branches reached as far as the Sea,^[a]
    its shoots as far as the River.^[b](A)

¹⁶ The Lord called you a thriving olive tree^(A)
    with fruit beautiful in form.
But with the roar of a mighty storm
    he will set it on fire,^(B)
    and its branches will be broken.^(C)

³ For I envied^(A) the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.^(B)

⁴ They have no struggles;
    their bodies are healthy and strong.^[a]
5 They are free^(C) from common human burdens;
    they are not plagued by human ills.
⁶ Therefore pride^(D) is their necklace;^(E)
    they clothe themselves with violence.^(F)
7 From their callous hearts^(G) comes iniquity^[b];
    their evil imaginations have no limits.
⁸ They scoff, and speak with malice;^(H)
    with arrogance^(I) they threaten oppression.^(J)
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.
¹⁰ Therefore their people turn to them
    and drink up waters in abundance.^[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
    Does the Most High know anything?”

¹² This is what the wicked are like—
    always free of care,^(K) they go on amassing wealth.^(L)

³⁵ I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
    flourishing^(A) like a luxuriant native tree,
³⁶ but he soon passed away and was no more;
    though I looked for him, he could not be found.^(B)

⁷ Why do the wicked live on,
    growing old and increasing in power?^(A)
8 They see their children established around them,
    their offspring before their eyes.^(B)
9 Their homes are safe and free from fear;^(C)
    the rod of God is not on them.^(D)
10 Their bulls never fail to breed;
    their cows calve and do not miscarry.^(E)
11 They send forth their children as a flock;^(F)
    their little ones dance about.
¹² They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre;^(G)
    they make merry to the sound of the pipe.^(H)
13 They spend their years in prosperity^(I)
    and go down to the grave^(J) in peace.^[a](K)
14 Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!^(L)
    We have no desire to know your ways.^(M)
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
    What would we gain by praying to him?’^(N)