First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Ro1:8
Yet my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped for I was filled with envy of the proud when I saw how the wicked prosper. For them there are no pains; their bodies are sleek and sound. They have no share in mens sorrows; they are not stricken like other. So they wear their pride like a necklace, they clothe themselves with violence. Their hears overflow with malice, their minds seethe with plots. They scoff; they speak with malice; from on high they plan oppression. They have set their mouths in the heavens, and their tongues dictate to the earth. So the people turn to follow them and drink in all their words. They say: "How can God know? Does the Most High take any notice?" Look at them, such are the wicked, untroubled, they grow in wealth. How useless to keep my heart pure and wash my hands in innocence, when I was stricken all day long suffered punishment day after day. Then I said: "If I should speak like that, I should abandon the faith of your people." I strove to fathom this problem, too hard for my mind to understand, until I pierced the mysteries of God and understood what becomes of the wicked. How slippery the paths on which you set them; you make them slide to destruction. How suddenly they come to their ruin, wiped out, destroyed by terrors. Like a dream one wakes from, O Lord, when you wake you dismiss them as phantoms. And so my heart grew embittered and when I was cut to the quick, I was stupid and did not understand, no better than a beast in your sight. Yet I was always in your presence; you were holding me by my right hand. You will guide me by your counsel, and so you will lead me to glory. What else have I in heaven but You? Apart from You I want nothing on earth. My body and my heart faint for joy; God is my possession forever. All those who abandon you shall perish; you will destroy all those who are faithless. Ps73