Midrasz do Przysłów 18:24

We are taught that Rabbi says: "Never shall a man try to acquire too many friends within his house, for it is said (Pr. 18, 24.) A man's many companions are hurtful to him." We are taught that Rabbi says: "A man should avoid appointing a supervisor over his household for had not Potiphar appointed Joseph the supervisor over his household, the trouble [he had] would not have occurred." We are taught that Rabbi says: "Why has the section referring to the Nazarite been arranged close to the section of Sota? To tell us that if one sec a Sota in her corrupted state he shall obstain from wine." Hezekiah, the son of R. Parnach, said in the name of R. Jochanan: "Why has the section referring to the Sota been arranged close to the section of Terumah and tithes?" To tell us that whoever has Terumah and tithes and does not give them to the priest will finally be obliged [to go] to the Priest on account of his wife, as it is said (Num. 5, 10.) And every man's hallowed things shall be his, and immediately succeeding this is written If the wife of any man go saide; and after this is written: Then shall the man bring his wife, etc. And moreover poverty will at last overtake him and he will become a recipient of that same thing which he refused to give, as it is said And every man's hallowed things shall be his [i.e.. And every man's hallowed things, — if he gives it not to the priest, — shall he his own, — for his own necessities]." R. Nachman b. Isaac said: "If, on the other hand, he give [deliberately the tithes to the priest], he will become rich, as it is said (Ib.) Whatever any man giveth to the priest shall belong to him, i.e., he shall have much wealth." R. Huna b. Brachia in the name of R. Elazar Hakapar said: "To him who associates the Heavenly name in his troubles (praising the Lord even for misfortune), his means of support will be doubled, as it is said (Job 22, 25.) Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shall have plenty of silver." R. Samuel b. Nachmeini said: "His maintenance will come as quickly as a bird flies; for it is said (Ib.) And thou shalt have plenty of silver." R. Tubia said in the name of R. Joshiya: "He who is careless about the study of the Torah, will have no strength to withstand a day of adversity; as it is said (Pr. 24, 10.) If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength i small." R. Ami b. Mathun in the name of Samuel said: "Even [if he weaken himself] from one meritorious deed; for it is said If thou faint, i.e., from whatever the weakening; may be."

R. Akiba says also he who reads in the books of the Chitzonim (profane books). We are taught in a Baraitha: This refers to the books of the atheists. R. Joseph said: "One must not read even in the book of Ben Sirra." "Why so?" asked Abaye of him: "Shall we assume because it is written there, 'Thou shalt not take off the skin of a fish, even that of the ear, as the skin will be damaged, but roast it in fire, and eat with it two loaves of toast?' Is not its plainer sense similar to the following passage? (Deut. 20, 19) Thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof, etc? And if because it contains, 'A daughter to a father is a false treasure. Because of the worry she causes him, he does not sleep in the night. When she is a minor [he is afraid] perhaps she will be seduced. When she becomes of age, perhaps she will sin; when she becomes vigaros, perhaps she will not marry. After she is married, perhaps she will have no children. And when she becomes old, perhaps she will become a witch.' Similar to this, our Rabbis also said: 'The world cannot be without males and females, however happy are those who have male children,' etc. And is it because there is written, 'Thou shalt not bring worry in thy heart, for such has killed strong men.' This was also said by Solomon (Pr. 12, 25) Care in the heart of a man boweth it down? Whereupon R. Ami and Assi gave their interpretation; according to one, 'let him dismiss it from his mind'; and according to the other one, 'let him speak it out to others.' And if because it is written there, 'Prevent many people from entering thy house, as not all of them are fit to come into it'; this also was said by Rabbi, for we are taught in a Baraitha that Rabbi says: 'Never shall a man try to acquire too many friends within his house, for it is said (Pr. 18, 24) There are friends that one hath to his own hurt.' Therefore we must say, because it reads there, 'A thin-bearded person is shrewd. And a thick-bearded person is a fool. He who blows off the foam, shows a sign that he is not thirsty. And he who says with what shall I eat the bread, take the bread away from him. And he whose beard is divided in two, the whole world will not overrule him.'" Said R. Joseph: 'However, the following good teachings which are in this book may be proclaimed: 'A good wife is a good gift; she ought to be given to one who fears God. A bad wife is to her husband like leprosy, and what is his remedy? Let him divorce her, and be cured from this leprosy. A beautiful woman, happy is her husband, the number of his days is doubled. Turn away thy eyes from a coquette, lest thou be caught in her net; abstain thyself from drinking wine or beer even with her husband, because through the handsome appearance of a beautiful woman many were destroyed, and numerous are those who were killed by her. Numerous are the wounds of the pedlar [inflicted by the husbands] when found trading with their wives, for as a spark kindles a coal, or as a coop is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit. Avoid many visitors to thy house; neither shalt thou invite anyone in thy house. Although many may be who wish you peace, however reveal thy secrets only to one among a thousand. Be careful with words even with her that lies on thy bosom. Worry not about tomorrow's trouble, for thou knowest not what the day may beget. Perhaps when the tomorrow comes, thou wilt not be in existence, and thus wouldst thou have worried for a world which is not thine." All the days of the poor are bad. Ben Sira said: "Also the nights, for his roof is usually lower than others, and his vineyard is usally on the top of the mountain, thus the rain from others falls on his and the manure [which he brings up for it] is blown off to the other vineyards which are lower."