תהלים, פרק צ״ד, פסוק ד׳

The wickedness of wrongdoers often begins not with physical violence, but with a dangerous combination of harsh words, immense pride, and a feeling of absolute superiority. This toxic mixture stems from a deep denial of Divine providence and ultimately leads to the oppression of the vulnerable.

These individuals constantly direct arrogant and fierce speech against God [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ]. This verbal rebellion is relentless, functioning as a continuous stream of defiance [רד״ק]. Some view this as a gradual progression. The arrogance first bubbles up from their thoughts like a natural spring, and then it expands into fully formed, organized arguments and claims [מלבי״ם]. The content of their speech is consistently harsh, strong, and deeply arrogant [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא, המאירי].

Following this fierce rhetoric, a profound sense of self-importance takes hold. The wrongdoers praise and elevate themselves, boasting of their own greatness [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת ציון, המאירי]. Their self-elevation is compared to the highest branch of a tree, illustrating how far above others they place themselves [אבן עזרא]. This pride creates a false sense of certainty; they convince themselves that their worldview is an absolute, proven reality [מלבי״ם].

There is a direct link between this arrogant speech and the actual harm inflicted upon others [שטיינזלץ]. When these individuals see that God does not immediately punish their wicked thoughts and words, their confidence grows. Their feeling of superiority quickly translates into actual evil deeds [אלשיך]. Because they completely deny God's active involvement in the world and reject the concept of reward and punishment, they feel entirely free to oppress the nation and crush the weak [המאירי].

To justify their actions, they even construct philosophical arguments to deny God's presence. They question why a God of justice remains silent and fails to punish the arrogant. Ironically, by pointing out that the wicked continue to prosper, they use this very observation to supposedly prove that Divine providence does not exist at all [מלבי״ם].