Midrash sur Job 36:13

R. Elazar said: "Any man who possesses the power of flattery causes wrath to be brought upon the world, as it is said (Job. 36, 13) But the hypocrites in heart lay up *** (Page 250) ger. Not only this but even his prayers will not be accepted, as it is said (Ib.) They cry not for help when He chastiseth them." R. Elazar said further: "Every man who possesses the power of flattery, will be cursed even by the embryos, as it is said (Prov. 24, 24) He that sayeth unto the wicked: 'thou art righteous,' people shall curse him, nations shall execrate him, and the word Kob means curse, as it is said (Num. 23, 8) How shall I denounce (Akob) whom God has not denounced, and the word nations (l'umim) refers to embryos, as it is said (Gen. 25, 23) And one people [Ul'om] shall be stronger than the other people, [referring to the embryos of Jacob and Isaac]." R. Elazar said further: "Every man who possesses the habit of flattery will fall in Gehenna, as it is said (Is. 5, 20) Woe unto those who say of the evil, it is good, and of the good it is evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. What is written later? Therefore as the tongue of five devoureth the stubble, and as the chaff is consumed in the flames; so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust." R. Elazar said further: "Whoever flatters the wicked will at the end fall into his hand; and if he does not fall into his hand he will fall into the hand of his son: and if he does not fall into the hand of his son he will fall into the hand of his grandson, as it is said (Jer. 28, 5) Then Jeremiah the Prophet, said unto the Prophet Hanminh… . Amen, may the Lord do so: May the Lord fulfill thy words, etc. And after this, (Fol. 42) it is written (Ib. 37, 13) But as he was in the gate of Benjamin, there was a captain of the guardsmen whose name was Yeriyah, the son of Shelemyah, the son of Channniah; and he took hold of the prophet, Jeremiah, etc., and again it is written. And Yeriyah seized Jeremiah and brought him to the princes." R. Elazar said further: "Every congregation where hypocrisy pevails will in the end be exiled; as it is written (Job. 15, 34) For the assembly of hypocrites shall be desolate [Galmud], and again it is written (Is. 49, 21) Thou shah say in thy heart: 'Who has begotten me these, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary Galmuda], an exile and wandering to and fro? Behold, I was left entirely alone; these, where were they?' "