Midrash sur Les Proverbes 3:35

R. Elazar said: "He who dispenses charity in secret is greater than Moses our teacher; for concerning Moses our teacher, it is written (Deut. 9, 10) For I was afraid of the anger, and the indignation, but regarding him who dispenses charity secretly it is written (Prov. 21, 14) A gift in secret pacifieth anger." He differs, however, with R. Isaac; for R. Isaac said: "It (charity) pacifies only anger, but not strong wrath;for it is said (Ib.) And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath; i.e., although there is a bribe in the bosom (secret charity) [nevertheless] wrath is strong." According to others, R. Isaac said: "A judge who accepts bribery causes strong fury to be brought into the world, as it is said, And bribe in the bosom, strong fury," etc. R. Isaac said again: "He who gives a coin to a poor man is rewarded with six blessings; he, however, who encourages him with [comforting words] is rewarded with eleven. He who gives a coin is rewarded with six blessings, as it is written (Is. 58, 7) Distribute thy bread to the hungry (Ib.) And then shall break forth as the morning dawn thy light and thy healing shall speedily spring forth, and before thee shall go thy righteousness, the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward. Then shall thou call, and the Lord will answer. Thou shalt cry, and He will say. Here am I. And he who encourages the poor [with comforting words] will be rewarded with eleven blessings, as it is written (Ib.) ... and satisfy the af- flicted soul, then shall shine forth in the darkness thy light… . and thou shalt be called," etc. R. Isaac said further: "What is the meaning of the passage (Prov. 2, 21) He that followeth after righteous and kindness findeth life, righteousness and honor? Is it because he pursues righteousness, he will find righteousness? We must therefore say it means that whoever pursues righteousness and charity, the Holy One, praised be He! will open unto him the ways of procuring money, in order that he may be able to practice charity." R. Nachman b. Isaac said: "The Holy One, praised be He, will give him the chance to find men who need and are worthy of support, so that he may have the [full] reward for it." By this he will be excluded from what Rabba lectured; for Rabba lectured: "What is the meaning of the passage (Jer. 18, 23) In the time of Thy anger deal Thou with them? Thus prayed Jeremiah before the Holy One, praised be He. 'Sovereign of the Universe, even when they overrule their evil inclinations and are about to practice charity, Thou shouldst not give them the chance to support worthy men, but unworthy ones, for which they will receive no reward.'" R. Joshua says: "Whoever makes it his business to do charity, will be blessed with sons having wisdom, wealth, and who will preach Haggadah (morality). Of wisdom, as it is written (Ib.) (Fol. 10) Who find life; wealth, as it is written, Zedaka (which refers to wealthy), and Haggadah, for it is written here honor. And it is also written (Prov. 3, 35) The wise shall inherit honor."

Said Rabbi Yochanan: Once I was walking on a path and I came across a man who was collecting firewood. I spoke to him but he did not respond to me. Afterwards he approached me and said "Rabbi, I am dead and not alive", I said to him: "If you are dead - why do you need the firewood?". He responded: "Rabbi, listen carefully to what I am saying to you, when I was alive, my friend and I were doing a sin in my palace and when we came here we were sentenced to punishment by fire, when I gather wood they burn my friend, and when my friend gathers wood they burn me". I asked him: "Till when do you have to endure this punishment?" He told me: "When I came here I left my wife pregnant and I know she is pregnant with a son, therefore, please take caution with him and from the time he is born until he is five years old take him to he house of his rabbi to learn biblical verse (mikrah) because when he can say Barchu Et Hashem HaMevorach then I will be saved from the punishment of Gehenna".

Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard (Exod. 18:1). Scripture says elsewhere in reference to this verse: The wise shall inherit honor; but as for the fools, they carry away shame (Prov. 3:35). The wise shall inherit honor refers to Jethro at the time he came to Moses. How very great, indeed, was the honor accorded him! And He said unto Moses: “I, thy father-in-law, Jethro” (Exod. 18:6). R. Joshua held that Jethro sent a messenger to inform him (of his coming). R. Eleazar of Modi’im declared: He sent him a letter stating: “Do it (welcome me) for my sake, but if not for my sake, do it for the sake of your wife, but if not for her sake, then do it for the sake of your children.”