Commentary for Proverbs 14:37

The wisest of women Heb. חכמות, vowelized with a “patach,” is not a noun, but [it means that] the wisest of women build their houses, for they are preserved by them, like the wife of On the son of Peleth, as is explained in the chapter entitled “Chelek.”

but a foolish one Heb. ואולת. But a foolish woman.

tears it down with her hands She tears down her house. This is Korah’s wife.]

He who fears the Lord goes in his uprightness Heb. ירא ה', he who fears the Lord, and he who is crooked in his ways...

despises Him The Holy One, blessed be He.

In a fool’s mouth is a staff of haughtiness A stick of haughtiness, like Pharaoh, who said (Ex. 5: 2): “Who is the Lord that I should hearken to His voice?”

but the lips of the wise guard them Heb. תשמורם, like תשמרם. They guard the wise.

Without oxen the manger is empty Without oxen, the manger is empty, for not even straw is found in the house.

empty Heb. בר, clean and empty. This means that without Torah scholars, there is no proper instruction.

but he who speaks lies and always speaks lies, is a false witness.

The scorner sought wisdom When he needs wisdom, he does not find it in his heart.

Go far away from a foolish wisdom. Do not always associate with him.

or you will know lips of knowledge You will eventually not know wisdom.

The wisdom of a cunning man Heb. ערום, he who is wise. is to understand his way To weigh his paths.

but the folly of the fools That is the deceit in their hearts. It will ultimately bring them to foolishness.

Amends for guilt plead for the fools For they sin and have to give money to the one against whom they sinned. And their amends, which they bring him with their money, will plead for them, like the Philistines, as it is stated (I Sam. 6:4f.): “five hemorrhoids of gold, etc. and you shall give honor to the God of Israel. Perhaps He will lighten His hand from upon you.”

אשם (amende in French, geldstrafe in German) a fine.

but there is good will among the upright apaisement in French (cf. above 11:27), appeasement. The Holy One, blessed be He, is pleased with them.

One’s heart knows the bitterness of his soul His toil and labor that he toiled with the Torah. Therefore, in his joy a stranger shall not mingle. Another explanation: One’s heart knows the bitterness of his soul Israel, who are of embittered spirit in exile, for they are killed for the sanctification of the Name—in their joy no stranger shall mingle in the future.

There is a way that seems right to a man He commits a transgression and says, “There is no transgression in it.” Another explanation: There is a way that seems right to a man The way of laziness seemed right to Esau, who was a man of the field, “but its end etc.“

Even with laughter that the Holy One, blessed be He, laughs with the heathens in this world. Their heart will ache in the future, and so Scripture says (Isa. 65:14): “And you shall cry out from sorrow of heart.”

The one with an impure heart shall have his fill from his ways Esau.

and above him is a good man Jacob.

A fool believes their words and is enticed after them. Another explanation: with laughter the heart aches It is sport for a fool to carry out a sinful plot (above 10:23), and ultimately, his heart will ache. The one with an impure heart is a wicked man, as in (below 26:23) “Impure (סיגים) silver.” סיג is the name of the dross. סוג is the silver mixed with the dross.

and above him is a good man And above the wicked man will be the righteous man.

A fool believes talebearers,

but a cunning man understands his steps Heb. לאשרו, his steps. He waits to quarrel until he knows the matter correctly.

A wise man fears retribution.

and turns away from evil From the evil.

but a fool passes vigorously He strengthens himself to pass vigorously.

and slips Heb. ובוטח, and slips and falls to the ground, as in (Jer. 12:5): “and in the peaceful you slip (בוטח),” and Jonathan renders: את מתבטח ונפיל, meaning “you slip and fall.” Others explain this as confidence. In his palace, he is confident, saying, “The evil will not befall me.”

A quick tempered man who hastens to avenge his anger.

and a man of sinful plots Thoughts of counsels of evil.

make knowledge a crown Heb. יכתרו, they make it a crown for their head, and ultimately...

The evil bend down before the good in the future.

The poor man is hated even by his friend Even by his friends who accompany him to his wedding and by his close friends. even Heb. גם, an expression meaning even.

The poor man is hated The ignoramus, who does not know how to behave properly.

In every toil In every toil of work, there is a gain, but in words of vanity, there is only loss.

The crown of the wise is their wealth that they are rich in Torah.

the folly of the foolish is folly The ruin of the fools is the folly that they neglected to learn wisdom.

In the fear of the Lord is a strong promise It is stated concerning Abraham (Gen. 22:12): “Now I know that you are a God-fearing man,” and He promised him: “For I will bless, you, etc.”

and he will be... for his sons He.

a shelter For they will take shelter and hide in the shadow of his merit.

in a multitude of people that the people are righteous is the glory of the Holy One, blessed be He.

but...in lack of people When they do not cleave to Him.

the ruin of His Princedom It is the absence of His Princedom. So to speak, He gives of His honor to others.

selects folly Heb. מרים, he separates it for his share.

A healing heart is the life of the flesh A heart of flesh, which heals the evil and passes over his retaliations, is the life of the creatures of the Holy One, blessed be He, who are flesh and blood.

but anger is the rot of the bones A man who is often angry is the rot of everyone’s bones.

but a righteous man is confident in his death When he dies, he is confident that he will come to Paradise.

Wisdom rests in the heart of an understanding man Heb. תנוח, it dwells and rests tranquilly; an expression of rest and tranquility.

but in the midst of the fools it is known The little wisdom that is in his heart calls out. This parallels the Talmudic maxim (Baba Mezia 85b): “A coin in a bottle makes a sound of kish kish.”

Charity will elevate a nation Israel.

but the kindness of the kingdoms is sin They are the heathens, who rob one to give another.

but his wrath will be upon a shameful servant.

רצון - (no actual comment is found in hard copy, only the opening word.)