Provérbios 1:17 Midrash: Midrash Mishlei & Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)

[11] (Proverbs 1:17): "Indeed, in vain is the net spread" - against whom did Solomon say this verse? Against the evil eye. Rabbi Joshua ben Levi said: Even birds and fish recognize the evil eye, and they do not enter into their trap, therefore it is said "in the eyes of every winged creature." (Proverbs 1:18): "And they lie in wait for their own blood" - these are the evil eyes. "They ambush their own souls" - these are the slanderers. Who caused them this? They caused it to themselves, and not only to their souls did they cause, but to all that they have, as it is said: (Proverbs 1:19): "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain, it takes the life of its owner." Alternatively, "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain" - a parable to a man who took a hook and threw it into the sea, and saw a great fish, thought it was nothing, swallowed it and was caught. If it had sensed it, would it have lost its life at all?! Therefore it is said "it takes the life of its owner", so everyone who takes a bribe has nothing in his hand, loses the money, and in the end, he loses his soul. Rabbi Yochanan said: Anyone who steals from his friend even the value of a small coin, the Scripture considers it as if he takes his soul from him, as it is said "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain, it takes the life of its owner."

R. Joshua b. Levi said also: "A cup of blessing should not be given except to one who has a gracious eye, as it is said (Pr. 22, 9) A man of benevolent eye will indeed be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. Do not read Yevoroch (be blessed), but read it Yevaroch (should recite the blessing)." R. Joshua b. Levi said also: "Whence do we know that even the fowls of heaven recognize one of an ungracious eye [and refuse to partake of his food?] It is said (Ib. 1, 17) For in vain is the net spread out before the eyes of every winged bird." R. Joshua b. Levi said further: "Whoever enjoys things of one of a malevolent eye, transgresses a negative commandment, of the following passage (Ib. 23, 6) Eat not the bread of a man with an evil eye… . for as though there were a division in his soul, so doth he act, etc." R. Nachman b. Isaac said: "Such a man transgresses two negative commandments, for it is said, Do not eat, and do not desire." R. Joshua b. Levi said further: "The breaking of the neck of a heifer [mentioned Deut. 21, 4] is for none else than for a malignant eye, as it is said [Ib., ib. 7) And they [the elders of the court] shall commance and say, 'Our hands have not shed this blood and our eyes have not seen it.' Is it possible to think that the elders of the court are murderers? We must therefore say that they mean by it that he did not come to us, and we sent him away, nor did we see him and we left him; i.e., he did not come to us and we sent him away without provision, nor did we see him and left him without an escort."