“The wicked man tzopheh (watches) for the tzaddik and seeks to kill him. But God will not abandon him into his hand.” (Psalms 37:32, 33)

An explanation: That the wicked afflict the righteous and pursue them is brought about by God in order that the tzaddik should consider and examine his deeds. Thus it is that the wicked man is like a watchman, like the guard of the city, who is called a tzopheh. So too, the wicked man guards the tzaddik from succumbing to physicality.

Another explanation: Some of the opposition that tzaddikim face is for their benefit. This is because opposition is like a cover, keeping them from being discovered and becoming famous more than is necessary. This is the explanation of:

**The wicked man tzopheh for the tzaddik—**TZoPheh connotes a covering, as in (Exodus 25:11), “v’TZiPita (you shall overlay) it with gold.” Yet, these wicked ones increase the opposition and increase the covering to such an extent, that the tzaddikim are unable to bear the opposition and hatred of the wicked. And this is:

**and seeks to kill him—**like people who cover someone from head to toe until he is unable to breathe. Likewise, the wicked man covers the tzaddik and increases the veils and the opposition, seeking to kill him. Nevertheless, “But God will not abandon him into [the wicked man’s] hand.”