תהלים, פרק ו׳, פסוק ח׳

The poet's suffering goes far beyond physical illness, deepening into profound emotional distress. He is tormented by the presence of his enemies, who surround him, take pleasure in his misery, and eagerly await his death.

The physical toll of this emotional agony is most evident in his eyes. The primary approach among commentators is that his vision experiences a form of decay and wearing out, much like a garment eaten by moths. Alternatively, his sight simply dims and blurs, as if he is looking through a piece of cloudy glass [רש״י, המאירי]. This fading vision is the result of intense heat and dryness brought on by his anger, which burns away the moisture in his eyes and leaves him unable to shed tears [אלשיך].

This anger and frustration stem directly from the agonizing experience of watching his enemies visit him while he is sick, knowing they are gloating and hoping for his downfall [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, שטיינזלץ, המאירי]. Another perspective suggests that the damage to his eyes is actually caused by the fierce anger directed at him by the enemies themselves [מצודת דוד].

As a result of this relentless hostility, his eyes undergo a severe deterioration. One view explains that his eyes age prematurely, losing their strength from the constant crying and endless troubles [רש״י, מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד]. Another perspective offers a more dramatic image, suggesting that his eyes physically shift from their place. In this poetic description, the sheer sorrow and the strain of constantly watching his enemies make it seem as though his eyes are being torn from their sockets [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, שטיינזלץ]. Ultimately, all of this intense suffering and physical breakdown happens entirely because of the enemies who relentlessly cause him pain [רש״י, רד״ק, אבן עזרא, המאירי].