תהלים, פרק ס״ג, פסוק י״ב

A picture of ultimate triumph emerges when justice overcomes falsehood, allowing the rightful leader to experience divine salvation while his enemies are silenced. The primary approach among commentators is that the king at the center of this victory is David himself. Although he was actively being hunted at the time, he had already been anointed and held complete trust that he would eventually rejoice in God's salvation [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מאירי]. Alternatively, this royal title might refer to the acting ruler, King Saul. In this light, the words reflect a genuine hope that Saul will find joy and peace in God, which would naturally lead him to abandon his fears and stop hunting David [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The promise of praise for those who take an oath carries two distinct meanings. It can refer to honest people who swear by the name of God. When God ultimately saves David, all those who maintain faith and cling to Him will share in the glory of His salvation [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. This genuine faith stands in sharp contrast to those who make false oaths. This contrast may serve as a pointed reference to Saul, who swore by God that he would not kill David but actively tried to do so anyway [רד״ק, אבן עזרא]. On the other hand, the oath might be made in the name of King David himself. Those loyal followers who fully believed in David's right to rule and swore by his name will receive public praise once their loyalty is proven right [מאירי, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

True justice will be visible to all when the mouths of liars are completely shut [רש״י, מצודות, מלבי״ם]. These deceitful individuals are the informers and instigators who spread evil rumors about David to Saul, constantly claiming that David would fall and never achieve the throne. Once they witness David's actual salvation, they will be left speechless, deeply ashamed that their false hopes amounted to nothing [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מאירי, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The sages note a deeper consequence to this silencing, viewing it as a direct punishment for the sin of evil speech. Because of such destructive words, a choking illness is brought into the world, physically closing off a person's throat just as the liars' mouths are forcefully shut [תורה תמימה].