לֵ֣ץ הַ֭יַּין הֹמֶ֣ה שֵׁכָ֑ר וְכָל־שֹׁ֥גֶה בּ֝֗וֹ לֹ֣א יֶחְכָּֽם׃
Manunuya ang alak, magulo ang matapang na inumin; at ang sinumang naliligaw dahil dito ay hindi magiging marunong.
Sha'arei Teshuvah
And the fourth section: One who always makes a habit for himself to engage in idle talk, and idle matters, like those who sit in the street corners. And there are two evils in the matter: The first is because all who proliferate words bring sin. And the second is that he is idle from [speaking] words of Torah. And the ways of death [are found] in this. For he does not remember or pay attention, that the time periods that he is wasting, he could [use] to reach pleasantness, to acquire eternal life - if he were to set these available times for Torah when he is free to pursue it, being unburdened by his work and dealings? This is nothing but his heart despising the commandments and the reward of the World to Come. In addition to losing much goodness, he will incur sin. For the guilt [accrued] from neglecting Torah when he has the ability to study it is a fire that consumes to destruction, as [the sages] said (Avot deRabbi Natan 36:6), “'For he has despised the word of the Lord' (Numbers 15:31) - anyone who can study Torah but does not...," as we mentioned earlier. And they, may their memory be blessed, said, [that] one who goes to a place where they gather for frivolity, this is considered a place of scorners, about which it says (Psalms 1:1), “nor sits in the company of scorners,” and it is stated afterward, “but his delight is in the law of the Lord.” You learn from this that a place of scorners leads to the neglect of Torah. And he who does not set his heart to engage in the Torah during his free time should take heed for his own soul, so he does not get lost. He should rather isolate himself to reflect upon his end, understand his fate, examine his ways, acquire virtues of the soul and draw near to God, may He be blessed.
The Fifth Section – One who scoffs with words about deeds and matters, though in his heart he does not despise them, but it is rather from the way of those who are joyous without cause and not according to the properties of [true] humor. Sometimes this is caused by wine and drunkenness, as it is stated (Proverbs 20:1), “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby will not grow wise,” meaning a person given to wine is a scoffer, a person given to strong drink rages, anyone misled by it will not grow wise. It is like (Psalms 109:4), “But I am prayer,” [means] a person given to prayer. This implies that wine feasting causes three bad things: First, it makes a person a scoffer. Second, it makes him a boisterous and talkative person. And they, may their memory be blessed, said, “He who speaks excessively brings about sin.” And it is stated (Ecclesiastes 5:2), “And the voice of a fool is known by a multitude of words.” The third thing, “whosoever is deceived thereby will not grow wise.” Know that the habit of mockery does not become entrenched in a person’s soul until he throws off the yoke of the Heavens from upon himself. Therefore he will be punished to carry the yoke of afflictions - measure for measure - as it is stated (Isaiah 28:22), “Now therefore do not be scoffers, lest your suffering be made strong.” And they, may their memory be blessed, said (Avodah Zarah 18b), “Anyone who scoffs, suffering will befall him, as it is stated, ‘lest your suffering be made strong.’” And the Sages would warn their students against scoffing even occasionally and by chance. And about this section they had to warn, since many have stumbled on it in an occasional way.
The Fifth Section – One who scoffs with words about deeds and matters, though in his heart he does not despise them, but it is rather from the way of those who are joyous without cause and not according to the properties of [true] humor. Sometimes this is caused by wine and drunkenness, as it is stated (Proverbs 20:1), “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby will not grow wise,” meaning a person given to wine is a scoffer, a person given to strong drink rages, anyone misled by it will not grow wise. It is like (Psalms 109:4), “But I am prayer,” [means] a person given to prayer. This implies that wine feasting causes three bad things: First, it makes a person a scoffer. Second, it makes him a boisterous and talkative person. And they, may their memory be blessed, said, “He who speaks excessively brings about sin.” And it is stated (Ecclesiastes 5:2), “And the voice of a fool is known by a multitude of words.” The third thing, “whosoever is deceived thereby will not grow wise.” Know that the habit of mockery does not become entrenched in a person’s soul until he throws off the yoke of the Heavens from upon himself. Therefore he will be punished to carry the yoke of afflictions - measure for measure - as it is stated (Isaiah 28:22), “Now therefore do not be scoffers, lest your suffering be made strong.” And they, may their memory be blessed, said (Avodah Zarah 18b), “Anyone who scoffs, suffering will befall him, as it is stated, ‘lest your suffering be made strong.’” And the Sages would warn their students against scoffing even occasionally and by chance. And about this section they had to warn, since many have stumbled on it in an occasional way.
Orchot Tzadikim
And there is yet another confusing joy that casts smoke over all the Commandments and causes reverence for the Lord, may He be Blessed, to be forgotten from the hearts of men, for instance — those who get themselves drunk and rejoice in the banquet houses. And after this type of joy comes sorrow, for much hurt comes from drinking feasts. And who in wisdom was as wise as Solomon, the son of David, who said: "Who cries 'Woe!' Who cries 'Alas!' Who has quarrels? Who has ravings? Who has wounds without cause? Who has red eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that constantly try mixed drinks" (Ibid. 23:29, 30). Also the prophet said: 'Woe unto them that rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink. They tarry late into the night till the wine inflames them" (Is. 5:11). And he said further: "And the harp and the psaltery, the tabret and the pipe and wine are in their feasts, but the work of the Lord they do not regard and the work of His hands they have not seen" (Ibid. : 12). And he said : "Therefore, my people are gone into captivity for want of knowledge, and their honorable men are famished and their multitude are parched with thirst" (Ibid.: 13). And he said : "Therefore, has the netherworld enlarged her desire, and opened her mouth without measure and down go their glory and their tumult and their uproar and he that rejoices, among them" (Ibid. : 14). And he said: "But these also reel through wine and stagger through strong drink, the priest and the prophet reel through strong drink; they are confused because of wine, they stagger because of strong drink, they reel in vision; they totter in judgment" (Ibid. 28:7). See how much harm comes from the wine! And it is written : "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous and whoever reels thereby is not wise" (Prov. 20:1).
Orchot Tzadikim
The fifth type is he who scoffs at things, not because he scorns the deed that he jeers at, but rather that he laughs in the way of entertainers by way of amusement. There are times when too much drinking of wine causes this, as it is said, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous" (Prov. 20:1).