תהלים, פרק ק״ט, פסוק כ׳

The ultimate fate of those who relentlessly pursue the innocent is sealed by divine justice. Reflecting on the retribution awaiting his adversaries, the psalmist recognizes a dual nature to their hostility. These enemies are deeply entrenched in their hatred [אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ], and they actively seek his ruin through destructive speech, cursing him and wishing for his death [אבן עזרא, מאירי]. Because their cruelty is twofold, rooted in both physical attempts to cause harm and venomous words, they earn a combined punishment that perfectly addresses both methods of attack [מלבי״ם].

The primary approach among commentators is that the outcome awaiting these enemies is directly born from their own deeds. The punishment is so intimately connected to the sin that it is viewed as the natural wage or compensation for their actions, much like a worker receiving exactly what they have earned [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, מאירי, מלבי ם ומצודת דוד]. Alternatively, this dynamic can be understood more literally, focusing on the actual physical deeds and speech of the enemies rather than just the resulting punishment [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Ultimately, the retribution comes directly from God, which prompts a deeper reflection on the nature of suffering itself. While human enemies may carry out the cruel deeds, the trials a person faces are ultimately sent by God [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. From a spiritual standpoint, these adversaries represent more than just flesh-and-blood foes, such as Esau and his descendants. They embody spiritual forces of accusation, much like the heavenly guardian of Esau. However, these forces have no independent power; they only operate because God grants them permission. In a profound sense, a person's own wrongdoings create these spiritual accusers that speak evil against their soul. Yet, even in the face of such opposition, there remains a deep, unwavering trust in God. The faithful can rest assured that these accusing forces will not triumph, and the very curses they hurl will ultimately fall back upon their own heads [אלשיך].