Les Proverbes 16:5 Halakha : Sefer Chasidim & Sefer HaChinukh

The penitent foregoes retaliation in order that his sins be forgiven.¹Yoma 23a. For it is said, “Who is a God like unto Thee that pardoneth the iniquity and passeth by the transgression” (Mic. 7:18). He who is despised by men not because of his evil deeds, is destined to be exalted, as it is written, “Behold my servant shall prosper he shall be exalted and lifted up and shall be very high etc. …” (Isa. 52:13). And who is this? It is the one about whom it is written in a later passage, “He was despised and forsaken of men” (Isa. 53:2). “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord” (Prov. 16:5).²Sotah 5a. The man who is despised and loathed how does he dare exalt himself? Is he then iron, is his flesh brass? His flesh is but worm. Even during his lifetime there are lice in his head and flesh, how then dare his heart become exalted. It is therefore best for him, if his strength be good, that he bring low his pride and haughtiness, if not, let him remember the day of death.³Berakoth 5a.

And I have further heard a reason about the prohibition of leaven and honey, because leaven raises itself and honey likewise brings up much foam. And therefore they were distanced [from us] to hint that “an abomination to the Lord is every haughty person.” And I saw further in the commentary of Ramban, may his memory be blessed, who wrote (Ramban on Leviticus 2:11) and this is his language: “And since the sacrifices are for the will of the glorious God, they should not come from things that have a strong hand to change the nature [of things]; and so [too], they should not come from things that are completely sweet like honey, but rather from [things that are] mixtures — as they, may their memory be blessed, said (Bereishit Rabbah 12:15) about the creation of the world, ‘He combined the trait of mercy with the trait of judgement and created it.’” Until here [are his words].