Midrasz do Przysłów 11:15

(Fol. 109) Bar Kapara was taught: "Always shall a man adhere to three things and keep aloof from three things. He should adhere to three things: Chalitza, to bring peace [between men and men,] and to declare a vow void." Chalitza, refers to Abba Saul; for we are taught in a Baraitha Abba Saul says: "Whoever marries his Yebama because she is a beautiful woman, or because he desires to have her as his wife, or for any other ulterior motive is just as if he came in contact with an Ervah, and it suggests in my eye (opinion) that the child is a Mamzer." Hence Chalitza is much preferable]; to bring peace, as it is written (Ps. 34, 10) Seek peace and pursue it, (Ib. b) and R. Aba said: "We infer through the analogy of [the two words] R'diffa; i.e., it is written here Seek peace and pursue it (v'radfehu), and it is written there (Pr. 21, 21) He that pursueth (rodef) righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness and honor." To declare a vow void refers to that of R. Nathan. For we are taught R. Nathan says: "Whoever makes a vow is as if he built a heathenish altar, and whoever fulfills a vow is as if he brought a heathenish sacrifice upon it." And one should keep aloof from three [other] things — from Miun, from receiving trusts and from acting as security. From Miun, because she might regret when she becomes matured [and thus renders her Miun unfavorably.] From receiving trust. This applies only from one who resides in the same town, for the trustee's house is familiar to the depositor [and knows all the interior and he may thus take away the article and afterwards demand it again.] From going security, refers to a Shaltsiyon guarantee, for R. Isaac said: "What does the passage (Ps. 11, 15) With evil will he be overwhelmed that is surety for a stranger, mean? Evil upon evil will overwhelm him who accepts proselytes; who becomes a guarantee of Shaltsiyon and who devotes all his attention to the letter of the law." He who accepts proselytes, refers to R. Chelbo, for R. Chelbo said: "Proselytes are as bad to Israel as a sore on the skin." A guarantor of Shaltsiyon, where they practice "release and seize;" (release the debtor and seize the guarantor). He who devotes all his attention to the letter of the law, as we are taught that R. Josi says: "Whoever says he does not study the Torah will not get the reward for it [for its study."] Is this not self-evident? We must therefore say that he means thus: "Whoever says that he cares for nothing else except to study the Torah will receive reward for nothing else except for the study of the Torah." Is this also not a matter of course? We must therefore say that he meant to say thus: "He will not be rewarded even for the studying of the Torah." Why so? Said R. Papa: "Because the passage says (Deut. 5, 1) That ye may learn them and that ye may observe them; i.e., whoever is included in the part to observe them, will be rewarded for ye may learn them; but whoever is not included in the part to observe them will also not be rewarded for ye may learn them. And if you wish, I may explain it as before: Whoever says he has nothing else but the Torah will be rewarded for nothing else but for the Torah, and as to your question, "Is this not a matter of course?" it would not have been necessary if not for the instance that he teaches to others who perform deeds as well, one might think that he should be rewarded for this [as being the cause of it.] The passage therefore informs us that he has no other reward but for his study. And if you wish I may explain, "he who lives up to the letter of the law," refers to a judge before whom a case comes and he decides it in accordance to a tradition drawn by analogy, failing to consult a greater scholar who is present. For R. Samuel b. Nachman said in the name of R. Jonathan: "A judge should always consider as if a sword lay between his thighs, and as if Gehenna were open under him, as it is said (Songs 3, 7-8) Behold it is the bed which is Solomon's; sixty valiant men are around about it of the valiant ones of Israel ............... because of the terror in the night; i.e., because of the terror of Gehenna which is equal to the night."