תהלים, פרק ל״ה, פסוק ד׳

King David faces relentless adversaries, but rather than seeking their physical destruction, he prays for their psychological and moral collapse. He hopes they will recognize that God stands by his side, forcing them to retreat in complete humiliation [אלשיך]. This defeat is rooted in profound disappointment. As the enemies realize their strength and hopes have failed, they are overcome by the collapse of their own malicious intentions and their inability to secure a victory [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מאירי]. The humiliation they experience is twofold: a deep, internal shame felt privately, coupled with an external disgrace caused by others [מלבי״ם].

The adversaries are divided into two distinct groups. The first consists of active pursuers intent on taking his life, much like King Saul. The second group is made up of wicked advisors who merely plot and scheme, posing a lesser threat than those who actively hunt him down [אלשיך, מלבי״ם].

When God confronts these enemies, they will be forced to abandon their pursuit and flee [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת ציון]. This physical retreat represents a profound internal breaking that goes far beyond simple embarrassment. Ultimately, they will face an even more severe level of public disgrace. This intense humiliation will strike even the lesser group of enemies who only plotted harm in their minds, overwhelming them the moment they realize their schemes have completely failed [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].