Envy thou not the oppressor,
and choose none of his ways.
For the froward is abomination to the Lord:
but his secret is with the righteous.
The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked:
but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
Surely he scorneth the scorners:
but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
The wise shall inherit glory:
but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
Asaph was envious at the foolish, when he saw the prosperity of the wicked, until he went into the sanctuary of the Lord, where he was given to understand their end. Then his heart was grieved, and he owned his folly (Ps. 73).
Seeking to satisfy their souls with the evanescent things of earth, they remain in ignorance of the counsels of Jehovah, which are known only to the righteous.
Their end will be anything but enviable, for the curse of the Lord is in their house, and His scorns their haughty pretensions. His blessings abides upon the habitation of the just, and “He gives grace unto the lowly.”
Those who are content to thus abase themselves and walk in the steps of Him who was ever the humble, dependent One down here will be despised by those who are wise in their own conceit; but they shall inherit true glory at last, when the false glitter of worldly fame has faded away forever, and “shame shall be the promotion of fools.”