Midrash sa Mga Awit 85:14: Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Midrash Tehillim & Sifrei Devarim

(Fol. 14a) Rab said: "Whoever greets his friend before he has prayed is considered as if he had built a heathenish altar, for it is said (Is. 2, 22.) Withdraw yourselves from man whose breath is in his nostrils; for what is he to be esteemed. Do not read Bameh (for what) but read Bamah (a heathen altar)." Samuel explains it, with what right didst thou pay thy regard to him [whom you greeted] and not to God? R. Shesheth raised the following objection: [We have been taught in a Mishnah] "Between the sections he may salute a respectable man and answer," [and the Sh'm'a is before the Eighteen Benedictions and yet one is allowed to salute a respectable man]. R. Abba explained that Rab deals with a man who visits his neighbor for the sole purpose of greeting him before he has prayed [therefore it is wrong, but the Mishnah refers to one who happened to meet his neighbor]. R. Jonah in the name of R. Zeira said: "Whoever greets his friend before he has prayed [is considered as if he] has erected a heathen altar." Questioned by his disciples whether he really meant 'a, heathen altar,' he replied: "I meant that 'it is prohibited,'" as R. Ide b. Abin, who said in the name of R. Isaac b. Assian: "It is prohibited to greet a friend and to go out to business before one has prayed, for it is said (Ps. 85, 14.) Righteousness will go before him." Further said R. Ide b. Abin, in the name of R. Isaac b. Assian: "For him who prays first and then goes to his undertakings, the Holy One, praised be He! will fulfill his desires, for it is said (Ib.) Righteousness will go before him, and will (level) the way by its steps."

"For You are not a God who desires wickedness; evil cannot dwell with You. You do not delight in wrongdoing; You cannot tolerate evil. [As it is said in Ezekiel 33:11], 'As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live.' No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. [As Rabbi Berachiah said in the name of Rabbi Levi], the angel in charge of anger is far from God, as it is said in Isaiah 13:5, 'They are coming from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord and the instruments of His indignation.' This can be compared to a king who had two fierce armies. In Psalm 3, a prayer of David, it is written that three armies walk before the Lord: [as it says in verse 6], 'I will not fear the myriads of troops arrayed against me on every side.' [And in Psalm 97:3], 'Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side.' [And in Habakkuk 3:5], 'Before Him goes pestilence, and plague comes after Him.' And which is the innermost of them all? Righteousness, as it is said in Deuteronomy 24:13, 'You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; because that for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work, and in all that you put your hand unto.' Rabbi Yudan said, 'I will let you know how powerful righteousness is and how far the reward of those who do righteousness extends.' Therefore it is said, 'No harm befalls you.'"

We are hereby taught that righteousness ascends before the throne of glory, as it is written (Psalms 85:14) "His righteousness shall go before Him and shall set his steps on the path."