Przysłów 3:6 Midrasz: Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Aggadat Bereshit & Midrash Tehillim

(Fol. 63a) It was taught that Hillel the Elder said: "When people imbibe (learning), diffuse it; when they reject (learning), gather it in. If thou see that the Torah is beloved by the generation, then, diffuse it [teach it even though there are others that teach them]; for it is said (Pr. 11, 24.) There is a man that scattereth gifts and yet his wealth is increased, but if thou see that the Torah is not beloved by the generation, then gather it in (do not teach it); for it is said (Ps. 119, 126.) It is time to act for the Lord; they have broken thy law." R. Kapara once preached: "If a thing is cheap, be quick and buy it [for it will surely rise]. Where there is no man (leader) try to be a man yourself." Abaye said: "We infer from these words that in any gathering where there are enough men one should not try to make himself prominent." Surely! This is more than plain! He needs it in the case of the stranger who comes and finds a man only his equal [the stranger should not try to do anything without the consent of the native]. R. Kapara expounded: "Which small section contains the essential parts of the Torah? In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path (Pr. 3, 6)." Raba said: "Even in matters of iniquity." R. Kapara preached: "A man should always teach his son an occupation which is clean and easy." What is that? R. Chisda said, "Needle work."

[2] Another explanation: "My God, His dwelling place of old." Rabbi Aha said: The Holy One, blessed be He, did not create a dwelling place for Himself, but rather so that you may do My will and be in awe of Me in these conditions. As it is written: "Only acknowledge Me in all your ways, and I will make your paths smooth" (Proverbs 3:6). And it also says: "He drove out the enemy from before you and said: 'Destroy!'" (Deuteronomy 33:27). "So Israel dwells securely alone" (Deuteronomy 33:28). As long as the Holy One, blessed be He, is at peace, Israel is at peace. This can be compared to a hired singer - [edit. dagar-to gather together as a brood] - who used to sing in his master's house. He would sit and dine and sing, but after a while, his master brought in the son of the prince - [edit. "Ben haNatz" = refer to to sparkle. literally means "son of a bud." In this context, it refers to a person who is considered a rising star or a person who has the potential to become great in the future, here it means Shekina and prob. also Messiah] -. When the singer saw him, he ran under the table and hid himself and did not open his mouth anymore. The king entered to dine and said to the son of the prince, "Why isn't the singer singing?" He replied, "Because you brought in the son of the prince and he saw him and was afraid, and he is not singing anymore." The king then took out the son of the prince and the singer sang again. So too, Israel is in the Diaspora, while the Shechinah dwells in its own land, as it is written: "Those who dwell in Jerusalem say: 'Far from us be the Lord's land; it was given to us as our inheritance'" (Ezekiel 11:15). The Holy One, blessed be He, says to Israel: "Why do you not praise Me?" As it is written: "My dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the steep place, let Me see your countenance, let Me hear your voice" (Song of Songs 2:14). Moses said to Him: "Master of the Universe, as long as You are in Your land, Israel is not seen in the world, but when You remove them, they are seen, as it is written: 'He drove out and said: "Destroy!"' and afterwards: 'So Israel dwells securely alone.'" Even the Holy One, blessed be He, is not seen in the world, as it were, until the time when the kingdom of Edom is uprooted, as it is written: "God is King over the nations" (Psalms 47:9). At that time, God will sit on His holy throne. (Psalms 47:9).

In what way will a youth merit to guard his way, as Solomon said (Proverbs 3:6), "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." If you know God in all matters, He will direct your ways. Similarly, David said (Psalms 16:8), "I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." And concerning this, David also said (Psalms 30:7), "O Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong." What enables my flesh to dwell in security? David said, "I know that deceit does not rule over my flesh." Thus, the righteous are content with no deceit, as they wait and search for what they may do to have a share in the World to Come. Therefore, David said (Psalms 16:11), "You make known to me the path of life." Similarly, Moses said to God (Exodus 33:13), "Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your ways." And he also said (Psalms 25:5), "Guide me in Your truth, and teach me." And as it is written (Jeremiah 6:16), "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it.'" See which way Abraham walked and which way Nimrod walked, and which of them succeeded. See which way Jacob walked and which way Esau walked, and which of them succeeded.