Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Mga Kawikaan 20:15

The lips of knowledge are a precious jewel (Proverbs 20:15) — their words are clear, bringing forth from the lips outward all the hidden treasures within the chambers of one’s heart, to teach the children of Judah the difficult and obscure matters of the Torah, each according to their understanding, revealing hidden and concealed things that were only revealed to the unique individuals of each generation and to the remnants whom God calls, and in whom He placed an understanding heart and a learned tongue with greater strength and might. However, in these generations, the gates of wisdom have been locked and they are closed — that which God opened. For if God grants wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from His mouth to some known person and places words in their mouth saying “Thus shall you speak to the children of Israel,” they close the doors of their lips, and they are forced to place their hand over their mouth. For in their opinion, God chose what they choose, and anyone whom they do not approve of, God also does not approve of. But this is not so, for usually they themselves are not even content with what they choose. Most choices are made out of jealousy of one’s fellow, and their only desire is to contradict their fellow’s opinion so that their fellow should not have any satisfaction in their choice. The selection depends on corrupt matters, as each person chooses their relative or acquaintance, whether or not they are suitable for God’s work, like the incident of Yehoshua ben Gamla (Yevamot 61a). They never choose a person for the work that is appropriate for them. For since the day that flattery and arrogance descended into the world, the poor are not recognized before the noble. Even if all agree that this is the person of whom God said He shall release my exile from the pit of hardships and I have placed My Torah within them to bring joy to the people who walk in darkness — they reject them and cast aspersions upon them, forcefully distancing the one whom God has brought near and to whose palate God has attached a learned tongue. They say to wood, You are my father. Let the heavens be appalled at a blind nation that has eyes, whose judgment contradicts what their senses tell them, denying what they themselves know. Therefore, I said, let be what may be, here is my tongue — God has given me the pen of a swift scribe, to write with my pen what God has graciously given me, to bring forth the wine preserved in its grapes from the vineyard that belonged to Solomon.

How precious are Your thoughts, O God (Psalms 139:17), those who gave their souls for God’s Torah, toiling in it day and night without cease, to bring to light the hidden wisdom with double understanding — both simple interpretations and novel expositions that gladden both God and man, with its inner meaning wrapped in hidden love and revealed rebuke. Behold, I am Shlomo Ephraim, son of my master and father, the Gaon Rabbi Aaron of blessed memory. Being troubled and pursued for many days, my main consolation in my poverty has been engaging in composing several books. In my youth, I composed the book Ir Giborim [City of Heroes], and as I grew older, I composed Olelot Ephraim [Gleanings of Ephraim]. Most of my work was devoted to Rivevot Ephraim [Myriads of Ephraim], which due to its great size, I cannot afford to bring to print because of financial constraints. Now, in the year 5361 (1601), before the days of Purim, I fell ill with a dangerous sickness for several weeks, until they added to me the name Shlomo. Through God’s mercy, He brought me out from this upheaval to give me life as of this day. I made a vow to God, which I shall fulfill, to compose this work for the honor of God and His Torah and to reveal its hidden meanings. The leaders of the three lands [may their Rock and Redeemer protect them], who sit first in the kingdom of heaven and are known in the gates for name and praise, have strengthened my hand with their power and assisted with the printing costs from their pockets. May God reward their deed and may their reward be complete. I called it Kli Yakar [Precious Vessel] after the verse Is Ephraim my dear son (Jeremiah 31:19), and the verse Precious vessel are the lips of knowledge spoken by Solomon (Proverbs 20:15), thus including both my names. In many places where I felt the simple interpretation was superior to others, I wrote “this is a precious interpretation,” for this is indeed the truth. Occasionally, I bring the opinions of other commentators and write “some say.” The reason I didn’t explicitly mention the author’s name is because I saw a disturbing thing in the words of most commentators who approach explaining the Torah — that there is almost nothing new in their words. In most places where there is some reasonable interpretation, that same interpretation can be found in several commentators. I don’t know if they all intended the same thing or if some wrapped themselves in a tallit that wasn’t theirs. Therefore, I didn’t know how to credit the original author since there are many who say it, and I’m not a merchant who should list and go on mentioning all who say it, so I simply wrote “some say.” However, in places where I found that interpretation in only one or two sources, I wrote the name of who said it. Nevertheless, I decided to greatly abbreviate the words of others so as not to expand my book with matters I didn’t toil in. All my words are very close to the simple meaning, and sometimes they contain some hints, as I have seen in all commentators. This is my portion from my labor, and the work was established in Solomon’s hand.

The pathway I have cleared in explaining this book leads the reader directly to a city of habitation (Psalms 107:7), bringing him to a place of rest and inheritance (Deuteronomy 12:9), where he will discover hidden treasures (Isaiah 45:3); for a wise word is a precious jewel (Proverbs 20:15).