Chasidut su Proverbi 14:36

Though I intend to elaborate on those in greater depth in the book, should God help and merit me to compose it, I will nonetheless briefly remark here, that as is written in the final chapter of Maimonides’ Eight Chapters—and as is cited in chapter 7 of this introduction—there are some Gentiles who say that humans are compelled and do not have freewill. This is because they sense in themselves that they are under compulsion, for “the kindness of the nations is sinful” [Proverbs 14:34]. The sages explain (Talmud Bava Batra 10b) that all good that they do is for their own benefit, like giving charity only for their own prestige. That is, since they have only an animalistic soul and nature, they are totally compelled so that even the good they do is for their own sake. If so, they have no originating freewill. Only Israel which has a holy soul above the animalistic soul and is not compelled by the latter—only Israel can compel the animalistic soul and has true freewill.³⁴⁰Such essentialist distinctions between Jew and Gentile are not rare in hasidic literature, including, prominently, in Tanya. See Biale et al, 30-32.

Fortunate is the person who listens to these words, to fulfill all that is written herein. He will never slip (based on Psalms 112:6) and his righteousness will answer for him in the time to come (based on Beraishis 30:33), when he comes to receive his reward. In the measure that a person meets out -- so (In that same measure) is he met with. Fortunate is one who chooses life -- Hashem will repay his endeavors, if it is to scoffers He will scoff (Proverbs 3:34), he will not gain wealth and his wealth will not endure (Job 15:29), woe to his soul -- for the retribution of his handiwork will be done to him (Isaiah 3:11), it will not be cast to the ground (but on their heads -Job 15:29), one who is good before G-d will escape from it (Ecclesiastes 7:26). How great is the goodness hidden away for him (based on Psalms 31:20), in his joy no stranger will take part (Proverbs 14:10), a laboring soul benefits from its labor (Proverbs 16:26, see also Tractate Sanhedrin 99b -- he works here and his Torah works for him elsewhere). Let us pour out our souls to Hashem to put our portion with Him, to stand at the threshold of His shade, they will have no regrets -- those who put their trust in Him (Psalms end of Chapter 34), no eye has seen (their reward) except for You G-d, what He will do for those who put their hope in Him (Isaiah 64:3).

And behold, the ese three characteristics, that are bashful, merciful, and performers of kindness - we find their opposites in thise who are divided from the community of Israel. For the attribute of kindness is nonexistent in all other nations, as it is written "chesed to the nations is a sin" (Mishlei 14:34). And the attribute of mercifulness is not in the Giv'onim, who are the Netinim, who did not have mercy on the sons of Sha'ul. And the attribute of bashfulness is not found in mamzerim, as it is written "and a harlot's forehead" (Yirmiyahu 3:3). And it also says, "any arrogant priest is from these" [servants who assimilated into the priesthood] (Kiddushin 70b).