(on how to understand psalm expressions about the death of enemies)
Since David was a prophet, his inner eyes were open and he knew that evil spirits rejoice at the fall of people and, on the contrary, grieve when people defeat their machinations - and, without a doubt, mentally arming himself against them, he prayed for the correction of people, applying to evil spirits what was said about visible enemies. If we do not explain to ourselves the intention of the prophets in this way, then not only from what they said will we not receive any edification to acquire meekness, but we will even acquire some kind of harsh disposition that is contrary to the gospel teaching, often praying for the crushing of enemies and not loving them; After all, David says a thousand times: “Let my enemies be ashamed and put to shame, and let me not be ashamed.” Let us not think that the prophets and friends of God said this in a sense other than the one stated above. A careful student of Scripture must apply what has been said about visible enemies to mental enemies. Moreover, the ascetic must try to understand every utterance of the psalms.
Saint Athanasius the Great. Creations. T. IV. M., 1994. P. 39)