Midrash sa Mga Kawikaan 15:8: Aggadat Bereshit, Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer & Midrash Tehillim

Chapter 6, Writings. [1] A prayer of David: Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea (Psalms 17:1). In the scriptures it is said: "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight" (Proverbs 15:8) refers to Moses, David, and the Messiah. Regarding Moses, it is written, "A prayer of Moses, the man of God" (Psalms 90:1). Regarding David, it is written, "A prayer of David" (Psalms 17:1). Concerning the Messiah, it is written, "A prayer of the poor man, when he is faint" (Psalms 102:1). "And the prayer of the upright is His delight" (Prov. 15:8), although all three pray, David prays with artistry. How can one say, "Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea"? The Holy One, blessed be He, said, "Until when will you pray? Say what you need, for you said, 'my righteous plea.' I swear by your life that for the sake of one of the things that I have mentioned before you, My vindication will come from You; (Psalms 17:2). Why did you say, 'If the leader sins' (Leviticus 4:22)? "A leader over whom there is no ruler except for God, since over a ruler there is no judge except for You, my judgment comes before You. David was a great artist, when he asked something from the Holy One, blessed be He, he played music to Him, as if to say, he delved his thoughts like those skilled in the wisdom of the microcosm (Baba Kamma 103b, Baba Batra 61a*). Deep wells of understanding." He asked first about the easy things, and only afterwards about the difficult things. Why was David similar to a person who asked to borrow a wheat barrel from the lender, and the lender said to him, "Please lend me a carob barrel because I am in a difficult situation"? David replied, "Come and take, we will take (the barrels) together." The lender then asked David to lend him a barley barrel and leave a carob barrel instead. David replied, "Come and take, we will take (the barrels) together." The lender then asked David to make him a wheat barrel and lend him carob and barley under it. David replied, "Take it, but who caused him to first ask about the easy things and only then about the difficult things?" The answer is from the verse "Judgment fell for David, 'The Lord has heard my righteousness.'" (Psalms 7:9) That is, first the easy things, and then the difficult things came before him in a straight path, as it is written "Your eyes will see what is straight before you." (Isaiah 30:21) God replied to him, "And I will act, for it is written, 'Behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you' (Jeremiah 51:36), and 'I will contend with him that contends with you' (Isaiah 49:25)." End of story. [*comment: This statement is found in the Talmud Bavli tractate Bava Batra 93b, and it discusses the power of a Jewish leader or "nasi" who has no earthly ruler above him, only God. The passage states that since there is no one to judge or govern the Nasi except for God, then his judgment must be considered just and valid. It then goes on to praise King David as a great artist, as he would deepen his thoughts and connect with God when playing music. The phrase "והואיל שאין על גבי מושל אלא ה'" can be translated as "since there is no ruler above him except for God," emphasizing the unique position of a Nasi who is accountable only to God. The phrase "מלפניך משפטי יצא" means "my judgment comes from You," implying that since God is the only authority over the nasi, his decisions are divinely inspired. The passage then shifts to discussing King David and his artistic talents. The phrase "אומן גדול הי' דוד" means "David was a great artist," and the following phrase "כשהי' מבקש דבר מן הב"ה מנגנו" means "when he would seek something from God, he would play music." The term "אינגיניו בלע"ז" refers to David's musical instruments, and the phrase "כמו הנהו נגאני דארעא מיקרו" means "he would play so deeply that the ground would shake." This passage highlights David's unique talents and spiritual connection with God.]

"Upon the Torah," whence do we know (this)? Because it is written, "If my covenant of day and night stand not" (Jer. 33:25); and (another text) says, "This book of the Torah shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night" (Josh. 1:8). Whence do we know (that the world rests) upon the service of loving-kindness? Because it is said, "For I desired love, || and not sacrifice" (Hos. 6:6). Whence do we know (that the world rests) upon Divine Worship? Because it is written, "And the prayer of the upright is his delight" (Prov. 15:8).

Another thing, a letter to David. David said, "I am a stain." This is similar to someone who was passing by and had two coins in his hand. He saw a certain inn, one of which served fish and the other served meat. He said, "What should I do if I tell him to bring me food?" Immediately, he brings me plates and I only have two coins. He went and said to the innkeeper, "Give me food for two coins." The innkeeper asked, "What will I give you for two coins?" He replied, "Haven't you heard what the parable teaches? 'According to my purse, I dance.' " Similarly, King David said, "I cannot sit with the great ones, I will wait with the little ones. Let Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob be in the small room, and Moses and Aaron be in the antechamber, and I will stand on the threshold (Psalms 131:1-2). I have chosen to huddle in the house of God. And if I cannot sit on the threshold, I will not leave the inn (ibid). Within the walls of Jerusalem, hallelujah. A prayer of David: "Hear, O Lord, my righteousness" (Psalms 17:1). This is as the scripture says (Proverbs 21:27), "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination." Rabbi Yehoshua said in the name of Rabbi Chanina, "Because Balaam said to Balak (Numbers 23:1), 'Build me here seven altars,' meaning that the Lord desires sacrifices. But He says to Job's friends (Job 42:8), 'Now take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams.' The Lord said to them, 'I do not desire your sacrifices; the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Me.' So what do I desire from the prayers of Israel? As it is said (Proverbs 15:8), 'The prayer of the upright is His delight.'