The way the world operates is not based on physical might or blind chance, but rather on exact Divine providence. A clear line separates the fate of those who attach themselves to God from those who distance themselves from Him, reflecting the reality that human beings possess no independent power.
God's protection extends equally to the individual and the masses [רש״י, רד״ק, מנחת שי]. This guarantee of safety operates on two complementary levels. In a practical sense, God shields His devoted followers from obstacles, preventing them from stumbling or getting caught in the traps of life [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. On a spiritual level, this providence acts as a guiding light that accompanies the righteous [מלבי״ם]. It includes active assistance and defense against the urge to sin, particularly for someone who has lived the majority of their life with integrity [מנחת שי, צוארי שלל]. Because righteous individuals make their bodies holy by constantly doing good deeds, God's holiness rests upon them entirely, enabling this deep level of protection [אלשיך]. Furthermore, this care is constant and unaffected by outside circumstances, remaining with them whether they live in wealth or in poverty [אברבנאל].
In sharp contrast, a very different fate awaits the wicked. They will ultimately be cut off and disappear from the world [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ], or they will be quieted as their noise and wickedness finally cease [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The darkness they face represents a time of disaster that arrives once their sins have reached a tipping point [מצודת דוד]. They are like a person walking in total darkness who is bound to fall [רד״ק]. Their downfall is a direct result of their own choices. By walking away from the light of God's providence, they sink into the darkness of their own bad deeds. This darkness eventually becomes a prison, trapping them and stripping away their ability to turn back and fix their ways [מלבי״ם, אלשיך].
The underlying reason for these different fates is that human success is never achieved through personal strength, wealth, or bravery. The primary approach among commentators is that success depends entirely on God's kindness and a person's moral actions. When God decides to bring a disaster, no amount of money or physical power can stop it [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. On a deeper level, humanity has no independent power at all. Every ounce of human strength is granted continuously by God; if He were to stop providing it for even a moment, a person's power would instantly vanish [מלבי״ם]. This lack of independent strength also applies internally. A person does not have the natural ability to defeat their own negative urges alone, and they require constant help from God to remain on the right path [צוארי שלל].