Musar untuk Mazmur 109:4

And that which they, may their memory be blessed, said that one who spurns Torah scholars, spurns the word of God and does not have a share in the world to come - this is something with a root in logic and a basis in analysis. And behold we find good reason and knowledge about this matter: King Solomon, peace be upon him, said (Proverbs 3:38), “The wise shall obtain honor, but disgrace uplifts dullards.” And likewise (Psalms 109:4), “and I am prayer,” [means] a man of prayer; [and] (Jeremiah 9:5), “You dwell in the midst of deceit,” [means] in the midst of people of deceit. [Hence] its explanation is that a lowly and disgraceful person uplifts dullards; and he honors and praises them. For there are great benefits in the honoring of the wise and upright; and many large snares in the honoring of the dullards and evildoers, and in putting them [on a pedestal]. For when the wise are lauded and put [on a pedestal], their words are heard [more], the whole nation accompanies them and their counsel appears right to them. Secondly, when people see their honor, they will learn a teaching, to offer honor and amplify knowledge. And they, may their memory be blessed, said (Pesachim 50b), “A person should always engage in Torah [study ...], even if not for its [own] sake; as through [Torah study] not for its sake, he will come to [doing it] for its sake.” Thirdly, many of those asleep at heart will be aroused from their sleep, when they see the splendorous honor of the Torah, will recognize its sublimity and the desire for it will enter their hearts. So their involvement with it will be for God, may He be blessed, and to serve Him with a complete heart.

And the fourth section: One who always makes a habit for himself to engage in idle talk, and idle matters, like those who sit in the street corners. And there are two evils in the matter: The first is because all who proliferate words bring sin. And the second is that he is idle from [speaking] words of Torah. And the ways of death [are found] in this. For he does not remember or pay attention, that the time periods that he is wasting, he could [use] to reach pleasantness, to acquire eternal life - if he were to set these available times for Torah when he is free to pursue it, being unburdened by his work and dealings? This is nothing but his heart despising the commandments and the reward of the World to Come. In addition to losing much goodness, he will incur sin. For the guilt [accrued] from neglecting Torah when he has the ability to study it is a fire that consumes to destruction, as [the sages] said (Avot deRabbi Natan 36:6), “'For he has despised the word of the Lord' (Numbers 15:31) - anyone who can study Torah but does not...," as we mentioned earlier. And they, may their memory be blessed, said, [that] one who goes to a place where they gather for frivolity, this is considered a place of scorners, about which it says (Psalms 1:1), “nor sits in the company of scorners,” and it is stated afterward, “but his delight is in the law of the Lord.” You learn from this that a place of scorners leads to the neglect of Torah. And he who does not set his heart to engage in the Torah during his free time should take heed for his own soul, so he does not get lost. He should rather isolate himself to reflect upon his end, understand his fate, examine his ways, acquire virtues of the soul and draw near to God, may He be blessed.
The Fifth Section – One who scoffs with words about deeds and matters, though in his heart he does not despise them, but it is rather from the way of those who are joyous without cause and not according to the properties of [true] humor. Sometimes this is caused by wine and drunkenness, as it is stated (Proverbs 20:1), “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby will not grow wise,” meaning a person given to wine is a scoffer, a person given to strong drink rages, anyone misled by it will not grow wise. It is like (Psalms 109:4), “But I am prayer,” [means] a person given to prayer. This implies that wine feasting causes three bad things: First, it makes a person a scoffer. Second, it makes him a boisterous and talkative person. And they, may their memory be blessed, said, “He who speaks excessively brings about sin.” And it is stated (Ecclesiastes 5:2), “And the voice of a fool is known by a multitude of words.” The third thing, “whosoever is deceived thereby will not grow wise.” Know that the habit of mockery does not become entrenched in a person’s soul until he throws off the yoke of the Heavens from upon himself. Therefore he will be punished to carry the yoke of afflictions - measure for measure - as it is stated (Isaiah 28:22), “Now therefore do not be scoffers, lest your suffering be made strong.” And they, may their memory be blessed, said (Avodah Zarah 18b), “Anyone who scoffs, suffering will befall him, as it is stated, ‘lest your suffering be made strong.’” And the Sages would warn their students against scoffing even occasionally and by chance. And about this section they had to warn, since many have stumbled on it in an occasional way.

And behold this group of slanderers is divided into six sections:
And the first section: When he attributes a blemish to a person and [that person] does not have the blemish. There are times that he will lie against beauty. And behold the heart of this one (has his mouth jump the trait of) [gathers the evil of the traits of] two bad groups - which are the group of the liers and the group of the slanderers. And behold we have been warned by the Torah not to accept evil speech - perhaps it is empty or a false matter - as it is stated (Exodus 23:1), “You must not carry false rumors.” And King Solomon, peace be upon him, said (Proverbs 17:4), “An evildoer listens to bad talk; a lie gives ear to malicious words.” Its explanation is - two groups accept evil speech: The first is is a violent evildoing man - from the usage [in] (Isaiah 9:16), “for all are ungodly and doing evil” - for he suspects the innocent, and loves to find a blemish and guilt about his fellow and a disgrace to his honor. And it will be that when he hears someone saying evil speech about his companion, the violence in his heart brings him to believe that the things are true. And the second group is [that of] the lying man. He also listens and believes malicious talk. Since he does not distance himself from false words, he will not be concerned if he accepts a lie, or if he listens to a false rumor. Hence he will be quick to accept evil speech. [The meaning of] “a lie gives ear,” is like a man of lies. And likewise (Jeremiah 9:5), “You dwell in the midst of deceit,” [means] in the midst of people of deceit; [and also] (Psalms 109:4), “and I am prayer,” [means] a man of prayer.