תהלים, פרק קי״ב, פסוק י׳

The success of a good person does not always bring joy to those around them; for the wicked, it becomes a source of deep torment. Witnessing the good deeds, wealth, and honor of the righteous triggers intense jealousy, leading to overwhelming frustration and a profound sense of helplessness. According to [אלשיך], this reaction unfolds in stages that directly mirror the rising success of the righteous. At first, the wicked person is simply angry that God rescues the righteous from trouble. As the righteous overcomes his enemies, this frustration deepens. Finally, when the righteous achieves the height of honor, the hopes of the wicked are completely shattered.

Consumed by this sight, the wicked person is filled with rage, physically grinding his teeth together in bitter fury [מצודת ציון, מאירי]. This physical action expresses a deep craving for revenge. If he possessed the power to destroy the righteous and cause him harm, he would do so without a moment's hesitation [רד״ק, אבן עזרא].

However, despite this intense anger, the wicked person remains utterly powerless. His heart melts and collapses inward from worry and jealousy, weighed down by the crushing realization that he cannot carry out his malicious plans [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מאירי, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The ultimate fate of the wicked is that their deepest desires will come to nothing. The primary approach among commentators is that this refers to their dark craving to witness the downfall of the righteous. Conversely, other perspectives suggest this refers to the wealth and abundance that the wicked desperately want to secure for themselves [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Regardless of whether their desire is to harm the righteous or to enrich themselves, their hopes will ultimately vanish like smoke, leaving their wishes forever unfulfilled [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, מאירי].