אַל־תְּבַהֵ֥ל בְּרֽוּחֲךָ֖ לִכְע֑וֹס כִּ֣י כַ֔עַס בְּחֵ֥יק כְּסִילִ֖ים יָנֽוּחַ׃
זאָלסט ניט זײַן האַסטיק אין דײַן געמיט צו װערן אין כּעס, װאָרום כּעס רוט אין בוזעם פֿון די נאַרן.
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
Rabba b. R. Huna said: "Whoever gets excited has no regard even for the Shechina, as it is said (Ps. 10, 4) The wicked, in the pride of his countenance (saith): 'He will not require; all his thoughts are, there is no God." R. Jeremiah of Diphti said: "He will even forget his studying and will increase in foolishness, as it is said (Ecc. 7, 9) For anger resteth in the bosom of fools; and again it is written (Pr. 13, 16) But a fool spreadeth abroad his folly." R. Nachman said: "It is known that the iniquities of such a man are more than his meritorious deeds, as it is said (Ib. 29, 22) A man of anger stirreth up strife, and a man of fury aboundeth in transgression."
Devarim Rabbah
Another matter, “carve for yourself” – this is what the verse said: “Do not be hasty in your spirit to become angry, as anger abides in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9). Who was it who became angry? It was Moses, as it is stated: “Moses’ wrath was enflamed and he cast the Tablets from his hands” (Exodus 32:19). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘So, Moses, do you vent your fury on the Tablets of the covenant? Do you seek that I will vent My fury, and you will see that the world will be unable to endure for even one hour?’ He said to Him: ‘What can I do?’ He said to him: ‘I will impose a penalty on you: You shattered them, you replace them.’ That is what is written: “Carve for you two Tablets of stone.”
Shemot Rabbah
“Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had spoken. The Lord said to Moses: Pharaoh's heart is stubborn, he refuses to let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning; behold, he goes out to the water; and you shall stand by the Nile bank to meet him; and the staff that was transformed into a serpent you shall take in your hand (Exodus 7:13–15).
“Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.… The Lord said to Moses: Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn [kaved]” – he is angry. Just as the liver [kaved] becomes angry,11The liver was regarded as the seat of anger; see Berakhot 61b. so, too, this one’s heart became like a liver; he does not understand, he is a fool: “As anger rests in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9). With what do you chastise the fool? With a staff, as it is stated: “A rod to the back of fools” (Proverbs 26:3). Moses, too, chastised Pharaoh with a staff, as it is stated: “and the staff that was transformed into a serpent [you shall take in your hand].”
Another interpretation: “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn [kaved]” – the Holy One blessed be He said to him: Wicked one, with the expression with which you honored yourself,12Pharaoh honored himself by refusing to humble himself before God. The midrash here is interpreting the word kaved in the sense of kavod, honor. with the same expression I will be honored at your expense, as it is stated: “When I have gained honor [behikavedi] through Pharaoh” (Exodus 14:18).
“Go to Pharaoh in the morning; behold, he goes out to the water” – he would go out to the water only in the morning, because that wicked one would boast and assert that he was a deity and did not need to relieve himself; therefore, he would go out in the morning. Catch him in the morning when he needs to relieve himself. “And the staff that was transformed into a serpent you shall take in your hand” so that he will be afraid of it.
“Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.… The Lord said to Moses: Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn [kaved]” – he is angry. Just as the liver [kaved] becomes angry,11The liver was regarded as the seat of anger; see Berakhot 61b. so, too, this one’s heart became like a liver; he does not understand, he is a fool: “As anger rests in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9). With what do you chastise the fool? With a staff, as it is stated: “A rod to the back of fools” (Proverbs 26:3). Moses, too, chastised Pharaoh with a staff, as it is stated: “and the staff that was transformed into a serpent [you shall take in your hand].”
Another interpretation: “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn [kaved]” – the Holy One blessed be He said to him: Wicked one, with the expression with which you honored yourself,12Pharaoh honored himself by refusing to humble himself before God. The midrash here is interpreting the word kaved in the sense of kavod, honor. with the same expression I will be honored at your expense, as it is stated: “When I have gained honor [behikavedi] through Pharaoh” (Exodus 14:18).
“Go to Pharaoh in the morning; behold, he goes out to the water” – he would go out to the water only in the morning, because that wicked one would boast and assert that he was a deity and did not need to relieve himself; therefore, he would go out in the morning. Catch him in the morning when he needs to relieve himself. “And the staff that was transformed into a serpent you shall take in your hand” so that he will be afraid of it.