always carefree—
The phrase "always carefree" suggests a life without the burdens or concerns that typically accompany moral and spiritual accountability. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, a carefree life was often associated with divine blessing, yet here it is paradoxically attributed to the wicked. This observation challenges the traditional understanding of retributive justice, where the righteous are rewarded, and the wicked are punished. The psalmist is grappling with the apparent contradiction between the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous, a theme that is also explored in the Book of Habakkuk.

as they increase their wealth.
The increase of wealth among the wicked is a central concern of the psalmist. In the historical context, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's favor, yet here it is possessed by those who defy Him. This accumulation of wealth by the wicked is a source of distress for the psalmist, as it seems to contradict the covenantal promises of blessing for obedience found in the Torah. The psalmist's lament echoes the sentiments found in other scriptures, such as Jeremiah 12:1-2, where the prosperity of the wicked is questioned. This phrase also foreshadows the New Testament teachings of Jesus, who warns against the deceitfulness of riches and the difficulty for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:23-24).

“Behold” is Scripture’s way of saying, “Look closely; don’t rush past this.” Asaph invites us to step back and notice what is happening.

• The psalmist isn’t blind to reality; he sees what anyone can see (Psalm 37:35: “I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree”).

• God allows us to acknowledge what troubles us before He resolves it.

Cross reference: Psalm 10:2–11 describes the arrogant confidence of the wicked from the same honest vantage point.

Here is God’s plain label for those who live without reverence for Him.

• Scripture consistently distinguishes the righteous and the wicked (Psalm 1:4–5).

• Asaph is not envying noble unbelievers; he is calling out people who defiantly ignore God (Job 21:7: “Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?”).

• The wickedness is moral and spiritual, not merely social; wealth may mask sin, but it cannot cancel it (Malachi 3:15).

The wicked appear “at ease,” untouched by the hardships that test everyone else.

• Psalm 55:19 notes “men who never change and have no fear of God,” highlighting the same complacency.

• Jeremiah 12:1–2 complains that the wicked “take root; they go on bearing fruit.”

• This ease is temporary (Luke 12:19–20): the fool who says, “Take life easy” hears God say, “This very night your life will be demanded from you.”

Bullet points:

– Outward calm does not equal inward peace.

– Prosperity can anesthetize the conscience.

– God’s patience, not His approval, allows this lull (Romans 2:4).

Material gain seems linked to their carefree life, deepening the psalmist’s struggle.

• Psalm 52:7: “Here now is the man who did not make God his refuge but trusted in the abundance of his wealth.”

• Proverbs 11:28 warns, “He who trusts in his riches will fall.”

• 1 Timothy 6:9 shows the snare behind the glitter: “Those who want to be rich fall into temptation.”

List of truths:

– Wealth can grow while character shrivels.

– Unearned ease is not evidence of God’s favor but of His forbearance (Psalm 73:18–19).

– The prosperity of the wicked will make their final judgment more obvious (James 5:1–5).

Psalm 73:12 records a fact, not an endorsement: the wicked often seem relaxed and rich. God lets us see the tension between what is and what ought to be so that we will look beyond temporary appearances to eternal realities. This verse is a snapshot of the problem; the rest of the psalm (especially vv. 17–28) supplies the resolution—God is just, the sanctuary reveals the end, and those who cling to Him have the only wealth that endures.