תהלים, פרק ז׳, פסוק י״ג

A tense scene of looming danger unfolds as weapons are readied for an attack, triggered by a stubborn refusal to change course. A wicked individual refuses to turn away from his destructive path, and as a result, swords are sharpened and bows are drawn, ready to fire [מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ, אבן עזרא].

The primary approach among commentators is that the wicked person himself is the one preparing for battle. Unwilling to repent, he continues his malicious plans, sharpening his sword and aiming his bow at the innocent person he is hunting [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ]. This creates a terrifying reality for the victim, who lives with the daily fear of death, feeling as though he is constantly standing in front of a drawn bow [רד״ק]. Looking at the broader picture, when God chooses not to punish the righteous target, the wicked attacker, who often acts merely as a tool for punishment, should naturally retreat. Instead, he stubbornly refuses to back down and continues to arm himself [מלבי״ם].

However, there is a layer of tragic irony in these hostile preparations. While the wicked person believes he is arming himself against his victim, the sword he sharpens is actually the very weapon that will bring about his own death. His evil actions do not ultimately harm the innocent; rather, they only speed up his own ruin, effectively turning his weapons against his own soul [אלשיך, אבן עזרא].

A completely different perspective shifts the focus from the attacker to God. In this view, it is God, not the wicked person, who holds the weapons. Because the corrupt individual refuses to change his ways, God prepares to strike, sharpening His sword and drawing His bow to deliver divine justice [רש״י, מאירי]. Furthermore, some suggest that the wicked person's refusal to repent is not just a possibility but an absolute certainty. Because it is a set fact that he will never turn from his evil path, God is already preparing His instruments of destruction against him [מאירי].