Megillah 6b – contending with the wicked

How is it צדיק ורע לו a pious person and bad is happening to him, whereas רשע וטוב לו a wicked and good is hapenning to him? If a pious person does some bad, he gets punished on this world for it, whereas the wicked get rewarded in this world. Recognize that the wicked get rewarded for their demise because they think everything is fine and will not repent.

The gemora Berochos 7:1 says that a צדיק גמור a pious person with no sins will be fully rewarded this world and next world, whereas a רשע גמור a wicked person with nothing good will be punished in this world and next world. It you only see the reward and punishment in this world than you might forget about the next world to come. The Ramban in Parshas Acharei says that it matters what your intentions are in doing mitzvos. If you do it for this world’s reward, so will you be rewarded in this world and if you do it for next world’s reward,you will be rewarded in the next world.

David, the reason is that he is on a roll and this might continue.

As to the non-answers of Laskern, the Ramban also gives as a reason what has happened in previous gilgulim. For example, if Reuven died owing money to Shimon and Shimon did not forgive him they will come back as Reuven as a rich man supporting Shimon the poor man. See Taanit 25a for a hint at this.

DovidBT: Just trying to bolster what Avi K wrote, look at the last half of the 5th Perek of Megilas Esther (starting at passuk Tes). Haman thinks he is on a roll and describes all the good that has happened but then meets Mordechai who still doesn’t rise or move for him. The megilla then describes that Haman went home and devised a plot against Mordechai. Haman at that moment felt that he would succeed based on R’ Yitzchok’s teaching. However, since Mordechai ignored him and did not contend with him, Hashem reversed the fortunes and Mordechai and Klal Yisroel were saved.