Salmos 73:3

"For I was envious at the arrogant,

When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no pangs in their death;

But their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble as other men;

Neither are they plagued like other men.

Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck;

Violence covereth them as a garment."

This impression that the wicked made upon the Psalmist was surely due in part to the faulty nature of his observation. It is human nature to view the "grass on the other side of the fence" as greener; and that propensity entered into the inaccurate impression here.

"There are no pangs in their death" (Psalms 73:4). This cannot be considered as accurate. Herod II was eaten with worms at the very moment when he was having himself proclaimed as a god; the dogs ate Jezebel, etc. - the list is a mile long. Look at Pharaoh, Zedekiah, Judas, Saul, Ahithophel, Absalom, Nero, Herodias, Salome and a host of others.

"Pride is as a chain about their neck ... violence covereth them as a garment" (Psalms 73:6). The mention of "garment" in the second line here suggests that the true meaning of the first line is that the arrogant pride of the wicked is worn by them like an ornament. All of these verses describe the wicked "as they appeared to be" in the eyes of the envious Psalmist, not as they actually were.