1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
3 A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things.
6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
16 The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
17 A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.
24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.
26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
<html><b>The wicked flee without a pursuer</b> The wicked flee when their misfortune comes, and they fall on an insignificant thing without a pursuer. <b>but the righteous</b> are courageous [through their trust] in the Holy One, blessed be He, <b>as a young lion</b> which trusts its might.</html>
<html><b>Because of the sin of a land, its princes are many</b> This is the punishment of a land, viz. that it has many princes, and they do not respond to any man. <b>but because of an understanding… man</b> But because of an understanding man, the retribution will be delayed from coming.</html>
<html><b>A poor man</b> An ignorant judge. <b>who oppresses the poor</b> in judgment because he does not take his time in arriving at a verdict. He is like rain that floods a field, and it does not produce fruit. <b>flooding</b> Heb. סחף and the language of the Mishnah (Keth. 1:6): “his field was ruined (נסתחפה)” and similarly (Jer. 46: 15): “Have your mighty men been swept away (נחסף)?” They were flooded, they slipped and stumbled.</html>
<html><b>Men of evil do not understand judgment</b> They do not give attention to the ultimate retribution, that they should think about it and repent of their way and be saved. <b>but those who seek the Lord understand everything</b> Good and evil. משפט is justise in Old French. In this manner, Rabbi Tanhuma explained it as referring to the generation of the Flood.</html>
<html><b>A poor man…is better</b> Even one who is poor in Torah. <b>who walks innocently</b> with good deeds.</html>
<html><b>but he who befriends gluttons</b> Heb. ורעה. He associates with gluttons. This is an expression of friends (רעים).</html>
<html><b>He who increases his riches with usury and interest…for him who is gracious to the poor</b> The government hears about him, that he is becoming wealthy by illegal means, and they confiscate his money, with which they build bridges and repair highways. This is being gracious to the poor. In this manner, Rabbi Tanhuma expounded on it.</html>
<html><b>into his own pit</b> Heb. בשחותו, from an expression of שחת, a pit.</html>
<html><b>A rich man…but a discerning poor man</b> Scripture speaks about a teacher and a pupil, that the pupil searches out [the understanding of the subject matter,] and through him, the teacher gains wisdom.</html>
<html><b>person will be searched out</b> He will be searched out with all kinds of false accusations.</html>
<html><b>but he who confesses and abandons</b> He confesses his sins and abandons them, never to return to them.</html>
<html><b>who is always afraid</b> He is concerned with punishment, and therefore distances himself from sin.</html>
<html><b>like a roaring lion</b> he is to them. <b>and a growling bear</b> נהימה, roaring, to a lion, and שקיקה, growling, to a bear, are both expressions of a cry.</html>
<html><b>who lacks understanding</b> As he lacks understanding, he is a great oppressor because he does not give any thought to his life. [Therefore,] he oppresses excessively, for one who hates unlawful gain will live long. [Consequently, he who oppresses others will die young.]</html>
<html><b>A man who is guilty of robbing one’s lifeblood</b> (Upon whom the crime of robbing blood lies.) He is one who causes his fellow to sin, and his soul is lost because of him. <b>will flee to the pit</b> Until his dying day, he will flee for aid, that it should be expiated for him. <b>but no one will support him</b> from Heaven to give him the possibility to repent, so that he will not be in Paradise while his pupil is in Gehinnom. In this manner, it is expounded upon in Tractate Yoma (87a).</html>
<html><b>will fall in one</b> In one evil, and there will be no rising up after his downfall.</html>
<html><b>will be sated with poverty</b> Heb. ריש, poverty.</html>
<html><b>A trustworthy man</b> who gives his tithes faithfully, for there is no witness to the matter, but the Holy One, blessed be He, sees and lavishes blessings upon him. <b>but he who hastens to become rich</b> He hastens the time to become rich from the belongings of the poor.</html>
<html><b>a man will sin</b> one who perverts justice.</html>
<html><b>He who hastens to [acquire] wealth</b> He who hastens to increase wealth and steals his heave- offerings and tithes. <b>that want will come upon him</b> Want will come to him, for a curse will be sent upon the work of his hands.</html>
<html><b>He who admonishes man</b> for the sins he has committed and separates him from them. <b>afterwards will find more favor</b> After a time, he will find more favor in his eyes than one who speaks with flattery. We find in Gen. Rabbah (44:5): “Wherever it says אחרי, it means only long after; אחר, it is soon after. In Tanhuma, in the portion entitled “These are the words”: “He who admonishes man after Me”—this refers to Moses, who admonished Israel after the Holy One, blessed be He, who were called “man,” as it is stated (Ezek. 34:31): “You are men,” and it stated concerning him (Ex. 33: 17): “For you have found favor in My sight.” <b>more favor than he who speaks with flattery</b> This refers to Balaam, who said fine things to Israel (Num. 24:5): “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob!” Moses announces (Deut. 11:16): “Beware lest your heart be deceived,” and Balaam announces and flatters, “Do what your heart desires; He does not care: (Num. 23:19) ‘God is not a man that He should lie,’ concerning the nations, but concerning you, ‘He says but He does not do.’” And Solomon cries about both of them, (above 27:6): “Wounds of a lover are faithful, whereas kisses of an enemy are burdensome.”</html>
<html><b>He who robs his father</b> The Holy One, blessed be He. <b>or his mother</b> The people of Israel. He who causes the people to sin by robbing the Holy One, blessed be He, estranges His children from Him and robs them of goodness. <b>destroyer</b> Jeroboam.</html>
<html><b>A greedy man</b> to attain all his desire. <b>stirs up quarrels</b> He incites the Divine standard of justice upon himself</html>
<html><b>He who gives to a poor man</b> charity. <b>will suffer no want</b> (to give him much charity.) And so it is with the teacher who does not withhold Torah from his pupil.</html>