ייִדישער מחשבֿה אויף משלי 2:10

And this is the intent of (Chagigah 3b): "He expounded further (Koheleth 12:11): 'The words of the wise are as goads' — just as a goad directs an ox along its furrow to bring life to the world, in the same way words of Torah direct the hearts of those who study it from the paths of death to those of life." The intent here is that just as the goad guides the ox in the making of a straight furrow and keeps it from straying here and there and the result of that straightness is life for the world, namely, grain and fruit, in the same way words of Torah guide men's hearts and make them wise. And not the type of wisdom which results in injury or in erroneous views, but which provides the true knowledge whereby a man may attain his goal. For there are types of wisdom which enlighten a man's heart but direct him from the ways of life to those of death, providing him with evil acumen which can lead to his undoing. But the Torah does not leave those who study it with wrong views or base character traits, as Solomon, may peace be upon him, said (Proverbs 2:10-12): "When wisdom enters your heart and knowing is pleasant to your soul, knowledge will guard you; understanding will keep you, to save you from the way of evil…" The intent is that when one acquires wisdom and it enters his heart and is as pleasant to his soul as a precious vessel, he gains great benefit for himself. For the knowledge guards over him and the understanding keeps him and saves him. And it is made clear in the words of our sages that the type of wisdom referred to here is that of Torah, as is evident from their homily on (Ibid 19): "All who go to her shall not return." It is this type of wisdom which directs the hearts of those who study it from the ways of death to the ways of life.

The third homily mentioned there is stated as follows: "He further expounded (Koheleth 12:11): 'The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails well driven in, the people of the gatherings, given by one shepherd' — just as a goad directs an ox along its furrow to bring life to the world, in the same way words of Torah direct the hearts of those who study it from the paths of death to those of life." The intent here is that just as the goad guides the ox in the making of a straight furrow and keeps it from straying here and there, and the result of that straightness is life for the world, namely, grain and fruit, in the same way words of Torah guide men's hearts and make them wise. And not the type of wisdom which results in injury or in erroneous views, but which provides the true knowledge whereby a man may attain his goal. For there are types of wisdom which enlighten a man's heart but direct him from the ways of life to those of death, providing him with evil acumen, which can lead to his undoing. But the Torah does not leave those who study it with wrong views or base character traits. As Solomon, may peace be upon him, said (Proverbs 2:10-12): "When wisdom enters your heart and knowing is pleasant to your soul, knowledge will guard you; understanding will keep you, to save you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perversity." The intent is that when one acquires wisdom and it enters his heart and is as pleasant to his soul as a precious vessel, he gains great benefit for himself. For the knowledge guards over him, the understanding keeps him and saves him from the way of evil, and the man who speaks perversity will not ensnare him in his net.