King James Bible
"For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways."
James draws from Isaiah 40:6-8, using the scorching Middle Eastern sun as a vivid image of how quickly vegetation dies under intense heat. The phrase emphasizes the speed and inevitability of this natural process, setting up his comparison to human wealth. The progression intensifies—not only does the grass wither, but its beautiful flower drops off and all its attractive appearance vanishes completely. This three-stage decay (withering, falling, perishing) underscores the totality of loss when something seemingly vibrant meets its end. James applies the metaphor directly: just as flowers perish while pursuing their natural course, wealthy people will fade even while actively engaged in their business pursuits. The phrase 'in his ways' suggests judgment may come suddenly during normal activities, echoing Jesus' parable of the rich fool.