시편 128:2의 미드라쉬

R. Chisda said: "Who may be called a scholar? One who is capable of deciding a T'refah for himself." R. Chisda said further: "Who may be termed (Pr. 15, 27) But he who hateth gifts will live? One who is capable of deciding a T'refah for himself." Mar Zutra lectured in the name of R. Chisda: "Whoever is versed in the Scripture, has taught the Meshna and is capable of seeing a T'refah for himeslf and waited upon scholars [taking part in their argumentative discussions], concerning him says the passage (Ps. 128, 2) When thou eatest the labor of thy hands, happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee." R. Zebid said: "Such a man shall inherit both worlds, this world and the world to come; happy shalt thou be, refers to this world, and it shall be well with thee, refers to the future world." R. Elazar said: "Whenever something was sent to him from the house of the Prince of the Exile, he would not accept it and if he was invited [to any party] he would not go, saying, does not the master want me to live; for it is written, One who hateth gifts will live long." R. Zeira, on the contrary, if anything was sent him, he would accept it and if an invitation was extended him, he would go giving the reason for his action that they desire to be honored by his presence.

"And much cattle" (Numbers 32:1). This is [the meaning of] that which is stated by the verse (Ecclesiastes 10:2), "A wise man’s heart is to his right," that is Moshe; "but a fool’s heart is to his left," that is the Children of Reuven and the Children of Gad, who made the essential, secondary, and the secondary, essential. Why? Because they loved their possessions more than their selves. As they said to Moshe (Numbers 32:16), "'We will build here sheepfolds for our flocks,' first, and afterwards, 'and towns for our children.'" Moshe said to them, "Do not do like this, make the essential first; 'build towns for your children,' and afterwards 'sheepfolds for your flocks' (Numbers 32:24)." Hence, "A wise man’s heart is to his right," that is Moshe; "but a fool’s heart is to his left," that is the Children of Reuven and the Children of Gad. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, "You loved your money more than your souls. By your lives, there is no blessing in this, as stated (Proverbs 20:21), 'An estate acquired in haste at the outset will not be blessed in the end.'" "Do not toil to gain wealth; have the sense to desist" (Proverbs 23:4). And who is wealthy? One who is happy with his lot, as stated (in Psalms 128:2), "You shall eat the produce of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you."

... “May the Lord bless you from Zion…” (Psalms 128:5) This comes to teach that the Holy One blesses them from the place that He blesses Israel. And from where do we learn that the blessings come out from Zion? As it says “As the dew of Hermon which runs down on the mountains of Zion…” (Psalms 133:3) and it says “May the Lord bless you from Zion, and see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.” (Psalms 128:5) May you merit to see the good of Jerusalem in the time to come, “And may you see children to your children, peace upon Israel.” (Psalms 128:6)