מדרש אויף מלאכי 3:18

(Ib. b) We are taught in a Baraitha: That which is crooked cannot be made straight. To what does this refer? To one who neglects the reading of the S'hm'a of morning or evening, the prayer of morning or evening. (Ib) And a wanting that cannot be numbered; this refers to one who was numbered among his colleagues for a religious duty, and who refused to be numbered among them. Ben Hei Hei asked Hillel: "What is the meaning of the passage (Mal. 3, 18) And ye shall return and see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that has not served Him. What is the difference between the righteous and the servant of God, or the wicked and him who does not serve God? Is it not the same?" And he answered: "Both he who serves God and he who serves not are really upright men, but you cannot compare one who repeats his chapter of the Law one hundred times to him who repeats it one hundred and one times." Ben Hei Hei then said to Hillel: "Is it possible that because the men did not repeat the one hundredth and first time, he should be called, He served not God." "Yes," replied Hillel "go and learn from the market-place, where asses are hired. When one hires an ass for ten miles, he pays one Zuz, but if for eleven, he must pay two."

“May your garments be white at all times, and may the oil on your head not be lacking” (Ecclesiastes 9:8).
“May your garments be white at all times, and may the oil on your head not be lacking.” If the verse is referring to white garments, how many white garments are there among the nations of the world? And if the verse is referring to oils, how many oils are there among the nations of the world? It is referring only to mitzvot, good deeds, and Torah. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi stated a parable; to what is this matter analogous? It is to a king who made a feast and invited guests. He said to them: ‘Go bathe and anoint [yourselves], press and launder your garments, and prepare yourselves for the feast.’ But he did not set a time for them when they should come to the feast. The clever among them strolled at the entrance to the king’s palace. They said: ‘Does the king’s palace lack anything?’²⁴Everything can be prepared immediately. The fools among them paid no heed and were not scrupulous regarding the king’s instructions. They said: ‘Ultimately, we will sense when the king’s feast begins. Is there any feast that does not require preparation and [arranging] seating [for the guests] next to each other?’ The plasterer went to his plaster, the potter to his mortar, the blacksmith to his coal, the launderer to his laundry room. Suddenly, the king said: ‘Everyone to the feast.’ They hurried them.²⁵The king’s messengers rushed the guests to the feast (Matnot Kehuna). These came in their glory, and those came in their repulsiveness. The king was pleased with those who were clever, who fulfilled the king’s instructions, and moreover, they brought honor to the king’s palace, but he was angry at the fools who did not fulfill the king’s instructions, and disrespected the king’s palace. The king said: ‘Let those who prepared themselves for the feast come and partake in the king’s feast, and those who did not prepare themselves for the feast will not partake of the king’s feast.’ One might [think] they would take their leave, [but] the king then said: ‘No, but rather these shall recline, eat, and drink, and those shall stand on their feet, be punished, observe, and suffer.’ So it will be in the future;²⁶Those who prepare themselves during their lifetimes will enjoy the benefits of the World to Come, and those who do not, will suffer and wish they had used their lives well. this is what Isaiah said: “Behold, My servants will eat and you will starve; [behold, My servants will drink and you will thirst; behold, My servants will rejoice and you will be ashamed]” (Isaiah 65:13).
Zivetai said in the name of Rabbi Meir: These recline, eat, and drink, and those recline, but do not eat and drink. There is no comparing the suffering of one who stands to the suffering of one who reclines. One who stands and does not eat and does not drink is like a waiter; one who reclines but does not eat, his suffering is exponentially greater and his face turns sallow. This is what the prophet says: “You will return and see the difference between the righteous and the wicked” (Malachi 3:18).
Bar Kappara and Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Kappara said: [This is analogous] to the wife of a royal courier who would adorn herself before her neighbors. Her neighbors said to her: ‘Your husband is not here, before whom are you adorning yourself?’ She said to them: ‘My husband is a sailor. If a favorable breeze will happen his way, he will come and will be standing over my head. Is it not preferable that he see me in my glory, and not in my repulsiveness?’ So too, “may your garments be white at all times” from transgressions, “and may the oil on your head not be lacking,” from mitzvot and good deeds. It is taught: Repent one day before your death (Avot 2:10). His students asked Rabbi Eliezer, they said to him: ‘Rabbi, does a person know when he will die in order to repent?’ He said to them: ‘All the more so, let him repent today, as perhaps, he will die tomorrow. The result is that all his days he is engaged in repentance.’ That is why it is stated: “May your garments be white at all times.”

“Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying: So you shall bless the children of Israel; say to them:” (Numbers 6:23).
“So you shall bless the children of Israel…” – that is what is written: “Do not envy a man of villainy, and do not choose any of his ways” (Proverbs 3:31). “A man of villainy” – this is the wicked Esau; “man” – just as it says: “Esau was a man who knew hunting” (Genesis 25:27); “villainy” – just as it says: “For the villainy to your brother Jacob” (Obadiah 1:10). What is it that it said: “Do not envy”? It is because it was revealed before the Holy One blessed be He that Israel is destined to be subjugated to Edom¹Edom is considered the nation of Esau. and would be hard pressed and overburdened in their midst, and Israel is destined to protest this, just as Malachi said: “You said: It is vain to worship God and what is the profit in our having kept His commission.… Now we praise the wicked; the evildoers, too, prosper; they also test God and escape” (Malachi 3:14–15). That is why the Divine Presence said by means of Solomon: “Do not envy a man of villainy” – do not envy the tranquility of the wicked Esau; “and do not choose any of his ways” – you shall not perform any of his actions. Why? Look to the end of the matter, as, behold, the day will come when God will despise everyone who would impugn [maliz] the mitzvot. That is what is written: “For the devious person [naloz] is an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 3:32). Likewise it says: “The Lord abhors a man of bloodshed and deceit” (Psalms 5:7). However, one whose path is upright before Him will be among His confidants; that is what is written: “And His secret is with the upright” (Proverbs 3:32). Likewise, it says: “Now, it will be said to Jacob [and to Israel what God has wrought]” (Numbers 23:23). And it says: “The secret of the Lord is to those who fear Him…” (Psalms 25:14). And it says: “You will return and see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him” (Malachi 3:18).
“The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked” (Proverbs 3:33) – this is Esau the wicked, just as it says: “[If Edom will say:] We are ruined, but we will return and build the ruins, so said the Lord of hosts: They will build, and I will destroy; [they will be called the boundary of wickedness]” (Malachi 1:4). “And He blesses the abode of the righteous” (Proverbs 3:33) – this is Israel, in whose regard it is written: “Your people, they are all righteous, they will inherit the land forever” (Isaiah 60:21). “Your eyes will see, and you will say: May the Lord be exalted [beyond the boundary of Israel]” (Malachi 1:5).
“If it is to scoffers, He will scoff” (Proverbs 3:34) – these are the Edomites, who are called scoffers, as it is stated: “A wicked and arrogant man, scoffer is his name” (Proverbs 21:24). And they are called wicked, just as it says: “Now we praise the wicked” (Malachi 3:15). From where is it derived that the verse is speaking of the Edomites? As it is written: “The evildoers [osei risha], too, prosper” (Malachi 3:15) – these are the Edomites, just as it says: “They will be called the boundary of wickedness [risha]” (Malachi 1:4). And they scoff at Israel every day, about the troubles that befall them, just as it says: “You were haughty against Me with your mouths, and you increased your words against Me; I heard” (Ezekiel 35:13). “He will scoff” – the Holy One blessed be He is destined to mete out to them according to their measure, just as it says: “As you have done, so will be done to you; your retribution will return upon your head” (Obadiah 1:15).
“But to the humble He gives favor” (Proverbs 3:34) – this is Israel, who are poor among them²This is a reference to the Edomites mentioned above, and refers in general to all of the oppressors of Israel. and walk humbly in their midst and bear their yoke upon them in order to sanctify the name of the Holy One blessed be He. That the Holy One blessed be He is destined to be gracious to these and punish those, just as it says: “Therefore, the Lord will wait to be gracious to you […for the Lord is a God of justice]” (Isaiah 30:18). And it says: “The humble will increase their joy in the Lord” (Isaiah 29:19). And it says: “For a people will live in Zion, in Jerusalem; you will not weep” (Isaiah 30:19).
“The wise will inherit honor” (Proverbs 3:35) – this is Israel, who are called wise when they perform the Torah and the mitzvot, as it is stated: “You shall observe and you shall perform, as this is your wisdom and your understanding…” (Deuteronomy 4:6). Because Israel observes the Torah in their midst, the Holy One blessed be He is destined to bequeath to them a throne of glory, just as it says: “He will bequeath to them a throne of glory” (I Samuel 2:8), as the Holy One blessed be He is destined to restore the monarchy to Israel, just as it says: “The kingdom, the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the entire heavens [will be given to the holy people of the Most High]” (Daniel 7:27).
“And fools carry away disgrace” (Proverbs 3:35) – these are the Edomites, just as it says: “I will eliminate the wise from Edom, and wisdom from the mountain of Esau” (Obadiah 1:8). And it says: “[Concerning Edom, so said the Lord of hosts:] Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Is counsel lost from the children? Has their wisdom spoiled” (Jeremiah 49:7)? What is “carry away disgrace [kalon]”? It means that they will carry away disgrace in their portion, as their end will be that they will go into fire. Kalon is nothing other than fire, just as it says: “Whom the king of Babylon roasted [kalam] in the fire” (Jeremiah 29:22). And it says: “Just ripened, roasted [kalui] in fire” (Leviticus 2:14). Likewise it says: “[The house of Jacob will be fire,] and the house of Joseph a flame, [and the house of Esau for straw, and they will ignite them and consume them]” (Obadiah 1:18). And it says: “I was seeing until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and it was relegated to the burning of fire” (Daniel 7:11). That is, “and fools carry away disgrace.”
Another matter: “Do not envy a man [of villainy]” (Proverbs 3:31) – it is speaking of an adulterer, who, when he consorts with the wife of another and she is impregnated by him, he robs money from the children of the woman’s husband and gives it to the mamzer, as the husband thinks that he is his son, but he is not his son, and he bequeaths him the inheritance with his sons. It is regarding this matter that the adulterer is called “a man of villainy.”³Villainy is a translation of ḥamas, which also refers to theft. What is “do not envy”? It is that anyone who sees the adulterer, who realizes the lust in his heart with the wife of another and she feeds him and gives him to drink, should not envy his tranquility and should not choose any of his ways. Why? It is because the adulterer is called an abomination: “They are six that the Lord hates, and seven that are an abomination to His soul” (Proverbs 6:16). “One who incites discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:19) is one of the abominations. This is the adulterer, who incites discord between a man and his wife, just as it says: “And a spirit of jealousy overcame him, [and he warned his wife]” (Numbers 5:14). That is why it is stated: “For the devious [naloz] person is an abomination to the Lord” – this is the adulterer, in whose regard it is written: “And are devious [unlozim] in their tracks” (Proverbs 2:15–16).
“And His secret is with the upright” (Proverbs 3:32) – this is one who sees his actions and abstains from wine in order to render his paths upright, just as it says: “Who render their paths upright” (Proverbs 9:15). What is His secret? It is that the Holy One blessed be He teaches him how to save himself from her, just as it says: “I have guided you on the path of wisdom” (Proverbs 4:11). The numerical value of wine [yayin] is seventy⁴Yod – 10; yod – 10; nun – 50; the sum is 70. and of secret [sod] is seventy.⁵Samekh – 60; vav – 6; dalet – 4; the sum is 70. He abstains from wine that totals seventy, and he merits the secret of wisdom that totals seventy. Wine enters, a secret emerges, wine remains out, a secret enters. That is, “and His secret is with the upright.”
“The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked” (Proverbs 3:33) – this is the adulterer. What is the curse [hame’era]? It is that the water that causes curse [hame’arerim] will examine him just as they examine her. That is, “the curse of the Lord,” just as it says: “May the Lord render you as a curse…” (Numbers 5:21).
“And He blesses the abode of the righteous” (Proverbs 3:33) – this is the male nazirite and the female nazirite, who, if they abstained from wine to protect themselves from sin, merit a blessing. That is why it juxtaposed the portion of the Priestly Benediction after the portion of the nazirite, because he merits receiving the blessings of the Priestly Benediction. That is, “and He blesses the abode of the righteous,” just as it says: “May the Lord bless you and protect you” (Numbers 6:24).
“If it is to scoffers,” (Proverbs 3:34) – this is the adulterer, who errs due to wine, who is called a scoffer, just as it says: “Wine is a scoffer, intoxicating drink is tumultuous…” (Proverbs 20:1). “He will scoff” (Proverbs 3:34) – as everyone scoffs at the adulterer, as he is a curse and an oath for My chosen ones. “But to the humble, He is gracious” (Proverbs 3:34) – these are the nazirites, who adopt humility for themselves, who abstain from wine and grow their hair in order to torment themselves and protect themselves from transgression. The Holy One blessed be He is gracious with them, just as it is written: “And be gracious to you” (Numbers 6:25).
“The wise will inherit honor” (Proverbs 3:35) – because the nazirites feared sin they were called wise men, just as it says: “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalms 111:10). And it says: “Behold, fear of the Lord is wisdom” (Job 28:28). They inherit honor, as the Holy One blessed be He lifts His countenance to them and grants them peace, as when a person sits peacefully in his home, that is his honor. Likewise, it says: “Preserve your honor and stay at home” (II Kings 14:10), as after the portion of the nazirite, the Priestly Benediction is written, in which it is written: “And grant you peace” (Numbers 6:26).
“And fools carry away disgrace” (Proverbs 3:35) – these are the adulterer and the adulteress, and they are called fools. The adulterer, from where is it derived? “Whoever is a simpleton let him turn here” (Proverbs (9:16). The adulteress, as it is written: “The woman of folly is loud” (Proverbs 9:13). “Carry away disgrace” – “he shall expose the head of the woman” (Numbers 5:18), and it says: “Her belly will distend…” (Numbers 5:27); do you have any disgrace greater than that? That is, “carry away disgrace.” This is why the portion of the Priestly Benediction is stated after the portion of the nazirite, as anyone who abstains from wine for the sake of Heaven merits all the blessings stated in the Priestly Benediction. From where is it derived? It is just as it says: “So you shall bless [the children of Israel]” (Numbers 6:23).