תהלים, פרק ל״ז, פסוק ב׳

The success of wrongdoers often appears impressive and stable, but it is entirely temporary and fleeting. There is no reason to envy them, as their rapid collapse is inevitable, much like the sudden wilting of plant life [אלשיך, מאירי]. The first illustration of this fate compares them to green grass [אבן עזרא], typically used as animal feed [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. By its very nature, this type of grass dries out and loses its moisture much faster than other plants [מלבי״ם]. Just as this grass is quickly severed and cut down [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת ציון], those who do evil will experience a sudden and rapid end [מצודת דוד].

A second image completes this picture, focusing on the moist, green foliage that sprouts above the soil, perhaps just after a rainfall [רד״ק, מאירי, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. While the hidden roots of a plant might survive underground for a long time, the exposed green leaves are fragile. They tend to wither, rot, and fade away quickly [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד], sometimes collapsing right at the peak of their bloom [מלבי״ם].

Beneath these natural comparisons lies a deeper spiritual reality about how the wicked succeed and ultimately fall. Through their sins, wrongdoers separate themselves from God. They become entirely cut off from their spiritual root and the true source of life, meaning that even while they walk the earth, they are essentially considered dead.

The reason they are still able to exist and find temporary success is compared to the moisture within a blade of grass. As long as a plant retains some water, it avoids wilting. In the same way, a wicked person might hold onto a small amount of vital moisture originating from a good deed they performed in the past. This lingering merit allows them to survive for a short time. However, as they enjoy material success in this world, that protective moisture is slowly consumed and dries up. Once their past merits are completely exhausted, they immediately wither and perish [אלשיך].