Midrasz do Przysłów 27:6

(Deut. 1:1:) THESE ARE THE WORDS THAT MOSES SPOKE. This text is related (to Prov. 28:23): THE ONE WHO REBUKES A PERSON WILL IN THE END FIND MORE FAVOR THAN THE ONE WITH A FLATTERING TONGUE. THE ONE WHO REBUKES A PERSON is Moses, since he rebuked Israel.⁷Deut. R. 1:2. (Ibid., cont.:) WILL IN THE END FIND MORE FAVOR <also refers to Moses>, since he found favor and good insight in the eyes of God and humanity. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 34:9): PLEASE, IF I HAVE FOUND FAVOR IN YOUR EYES, O LORD. (Prov. 28:23:) THE ONE WITH A FLATTERING TONGUE refers to Balaam, since he said to Israel (in Numb. 24:5): HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE YOUR TENTS, O JACOB; YOUR TABERNACLES, O ISRAEL. To what were they comparable? To a king's son, who had two guardians.⁸Gk.: paidagogoi. One loved him and the other hated him. The one who loved him warned him and said: My son, watch yourself, lest you make a transgression, since your father is judge; and if he hears that you have committed a transgression, even though he is your father, he will not show partiality to you. But the one who hated him said to him: Why are you depressed? Your father is king! Do as you desire. Be afraid of no mortal, for your father will not be upset with you. Similarly the son is Israel. The two guardians are Moses and Balaam. Moses loved them and said to them (in Deut. 11:16–17): TAKE HEED LEST YOUR HEART BE DECEIVED …; FOR THE ANGER OF THE LORD WILL BE KINDLED AGAINST YOU. Why? Because he is judge, as stated (in Deut. 4:39): SO KNOW THIS DAY AND TAKE TO HEART THAT THE LORD IS GOD. Balaam, however, said: Do not be afraid. You are his children. Do whatever you want, for he will not be upset with you. To all the nations he does whatever he decrees over them. Why? (Numb. 23:19:) GOD IS NOT A HUMAN, THAT HE SHOULD SPEAK FALSEHOOD. But in your case he said (ibid., cont.): HAS HE GIVEN HIS WORD WITHOUT ACTING <ON IT>? AND HAS HE SPOKEN <SOMETHING> WITHOUT FULFILLING IT? On this point Solomon cries out and says (in Prov. 27:6): THE WOUNDS OF A LOVED ONE ARE FOUND TO BE TRUSTWORTHY. This refers to Moses. (Ibid., cont.): AND THE KISSES OF AN ENEMY ARE PROFUSE. This refers to Balaam. (Deut. 1:1:) THESE ARE THE WORDS.

R. Samuel b. Nachmeni in the name of R. Jonathan said: "What is the meaning of (Prov. 27, 6) Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are importune, i.e. The caution that Achiyah the Shilonite cautioned Israel is better for them than the blessings that Bil'am blessed them. The former cautioned Israel giving as a simile the reed, as it is said (I Kings 14, 15) As the reed is shaken in the water. As this reed stands in water-places, the branches (Fol. 106) of it change, but its roots are many, and even all the winds of the world when blowing upon it are not able to uproot it, but it bends in every direction of the wind. However, when the wind ceases it remains straight in its place. But Bil'am, the wicked, blessed Israel likening them to a cedar, which does not stand in waterplaces, does not change its branches, and its roots are few, and although no winds can affect it, however, as soon as a south wind comes it uproots it and turns it over on its face. Moreover, a pen for writing the Holy Scrolls, the Prophets and the Hagiographa is made from a reed."