Psalms 73:11

Why, you have it here in so many words: Look, these are sinners, and prospering always; they have become rich. "Is it to no purpose that I set my heart right or washed my hands among the innocent and was scourged every day?" I worship God; they blaspheme God. For them good fortune, for me misfortune. Where is the justice of it? That is why feet were shaken, that is why steps were almost pulled from under, that is why destruction was looming. Yes, just notice please what a dangerous position he had got into. He adds, "And I said, How did God know? Can there be knowledge in the most High?" Notice what a dangerous position he has got into by looking for earthly good fortune from God as though it were of great value.

Therefore those who were in sin said, "How has God known? And is there all knowledge in the most High?" Indeed, they suppose that knowledge is not in God, because sinners abound in worldly prosperity. And the Scripture still represents such individuals as saying, "Behold, these are sinners, and abounding in the world they have obtained riches." You find this more clearly portrayed in the Gospel where Simon the Pharisee, seeing that the sinful woman had come into his house and had poured ointment over Christ's feet, said to himself, "This man, were he a prophet, would surely know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." But God's patience is not prejudicial to truth, while his foreknowledge and providence are proved even more by this very fact, that one who is in sin abounds in worldly prosperity and success. Seeing this, one who is stronger laughs, but one who is incautious is moved and led astray.

"And they said, How has God known, and is there knowledge in the Most High?" [Psalm 73:11]. See through what thought they pass. Behold unjust men are happy, God does not care for things human. Does He indeed know what we do? See what things are being said. We are inquiring, brethren, "How has God known," etc. (no longer let Christians say it). For how does it appear to you that God knows not, and that there is no knowledge in the Most High? He replies, "Lo! Themselves they are sinners, and in the world they have gotten abundant riches" [Psalm 73:12]. Both sinners they are, and in the world they have gotten abundant riches. He confessed that he willed not to be a sinner in order that he might have riches. A carnal soul for things visible and earthly would have sold its justice. What sort of justice is that which is retained for the sake of gold, as if gold were a more precious thing than justice herself, or as if when a man denies the deposit of another man's goods, he to whom he denied them should suffer a greater loss, than he that denies them to him. The former does lose a garment, the latter fidelity. "Lo! They are themselves sinners, and in the world they have gotten abundant riches." On this account therefore God knows not, and on this account there is no knowledge in the Most High.