Midras Amsal 1:19: Midrash Mishlei, Midrash Tanchuma, Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition) & Vayikra Rabbah

[11] (Proverbs 1:17): "Indeed, in vain is the net spread" - against whom did Solomon say this verse? Against the evil eye. Rabbi Joshua ben Levi said: Even birds and fish recognize the evil eye, and they do not enter into their trap, therefore it is said "in the eyes of every winged creature." (Proverbs 1:18): "And they lie in wait for their own blood" - these are the evil eyes. "They ambush their own souls" - these are the slanderers. Who caused them this? They caused it to themselves, and not only to their souls did they cause, but to all that they have, as it is said: (Proverbs 1:19): "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain, it takes the life of its owner." Alternatively, "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain" - a parable to a man who took a hook and threw it into the sea, and saw a great fish, thought it was nothing, swallowed it and was caught. If it had sensed it, would it have lost its life at all?! Therefore it is said "it takes the life of its owner", so everyone who takes a bribe has nothing in his hand, loses the money, and in the end, he loses his soul. Rabbi Yochanan said: Anyone who steals from his friend even the value of a small coin, the Scripture considers it as if he takes his soul from him, as it is said "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain, it takes the life of its owner."

R. Yohanan was of the opinion that a man who steals as little as a perutah from his companion is considered as though depriving him of his life, as it is said: So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain; it taketh away the life of the owners thereof (Prov. 1:19).

R. Jochanan said: "One who robs his neighbor even to the value of a parutha (half a cent) is considered as if he would take away his life; for it is said (Prov. 1, 19) So are the ways of every one who is greedy of [unlawful] gain; it takes away the life of the owners thereof. And again there is a verse (Jer. 5, 17) And they shall eat up thy harvest, and thy bread, they shall eat up thy sons and thy daughters. And again (Joel. 4, 19) For the violence against the children of Judah. And again (II. Sam. 21, 1) It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites. To what purpose is the second verse cited? One may say that it refers only to his own life, but not to the life of his children; hence the other verse, The flesh of thy sons and daughters. And still one may say that it refers only to a robber who does not pay for the robbery, but not if he does pay; hence the verse, For the violence against the children of Judah. [Violence means even when he gives money]. And, finally, one may say: This deals only when he actually did it with his hands, but not when he was only a cause of it; hence the last verse, Who has slain the Gibeonites; where do we find that Saul had slain them? We must say, therefore, that because he has slain Nob the city of the priests, who liad supported the Gibeonites with water and food, Scripture considers Saul as though he himself had slain the Gibeonites.