Welcome everybody to Nachdaily, covering the entire Tanach one perek at a time. Today we’re learning Mishlei Perek 11.
Similar in style to the previous perek, this chapter contains verses that contrast each other with good and bad.
Shlomo Hamelech tells us that false scales are disgusting to Hashem, but proper ones are pleasing. As it says in the first passuk, “Moznei mirma to’avas Hashem v’even sh’laimah r’tzono, False scales are an abomination to God, but a full weight is pleasing to Him.” It should be noted that it's actually an issur, forbidden in the Torah, to use or own inaccurate scales. The Sefer Hachinuch counts using proper scales as Mitzva 259.
The Vilna Gaon warns us that we shouldn't be lenient with ourselves while judging other people strictly. All too often we hold a double standard for ourselves vis-a-vis other people. We’re quick to use our scales of judgment to weigh in on other people’s behaviors before looking inwards and weighing ourselves.
Rebbe Nachman explains that first we need to search out the good in all people, seeking to find even a smidgen of something favorable in them. Only after having done that can we turn the lenses inwards to search for the good in ourselves.
The Gaon continues to caution us to look at the world in a balanced manner. We shouldn't take the leniencies of Beis Hillel or Beis Shammai nor their chumras, strictness, but seek the middle road.
The famous Rambam in the beginning of Sh’moneh Perakim advises us to take that middle road, something which seems to be a lost art nowadays...not to be too extreme in either direction, but to live a balanced, healthy, normal and regular life.
Moving on in the perek, Shlomo Hamelech speaks about how evil people ultimately fall in disgrace. They who fill their lives with negativity pass that onto their children. Honest, sincere people will walk upright, knowing they've done the right thing. They will feel hopeful and proud of their accomplishments.
Those who humiliate other human beings lack class. Honorable people will humbly attempt not to embarrass anyone. People without a plan and vision for the future live a life of false security, but righteous people with a vision will feel secure and confident in their actions.
It might seem as if people who live a deviant life are successful, but nothing can be further from the truth. They often live in tremendous turmoil, hurt those around them and have difficult relationships. One with a pure mind desires only to do good, the ratzon, the will, of Hashem.
This brings to us to the last passuk in the perek, verse 31: “Hein Tzaddik ba’aretz y’shulam, af ki-rasha v’choteh - If the righteous man is punished while still on earth, then surely, too, the wicked man who sins.”
Rashi explains that if even a tzaddik gets punished, how can a rasha be happy when seemingly receiving good? Certainly, if an honest, sincere, God fearing Jew gets punished, dishonest sinners will receive what's coming to them.
Bereishis Rabba 65:18 says that if suffering is decreed for those who do Hashem’s Will, how much more so for those who anger Him!
May we merit having emunah, trust, that hakol l’tova, it's all good.
In the next episode of NachDaily we’ll be moving on to perek 12.
Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.
