Shlomo Hamelech opens this perek by contrasting the wise with the foolish. Wise people listen to their parents’ advice, while fools despise it. A person with wisdom is careful not to hurt others with words, while a fool uses words to be self-promoting and tear others down. One who is lazy has many desires that never get fulfilled, while one who is diligent, with steady work habits, flourishes. Many obtain money but still feel as if they have nothing, while others are poor but feel wealthy.
Passuk 9 says: “Ore Tzaddikim yismach, v’ner R’shaim yidach - the light of the righteous will rejoice, but the lamp of the wicked will die out.”
Rabbenu Yona explains that the nefesh, soul of the Tzadik is compared to light. Both the soul and light are eternal and will exist forever. As the light of the sun is intrinsic to the sun itself, the nefesh of the Tzadik is intrinsically bound up in Hashem and receives its light from the Source of life itself, God.
As the soul of the Tzadik is bound up with God, it's able to feel pleasure through doing mitzvos. The Tzadik is able to be happy even when tested with pain and challenges because his happiness is intrinsic, coming from another- worldly place.
In the next world, in Olam Haba, the Tzadik will encounter pleasure so great that it will be better than anything anyone on earth has ever experienced.
The Rabbenu Yona brings the Gemarah in Shabbos 88B which explains that a person who does mitzvos out of love, and is happy despite yessurim, discomfort and pain, is loved like the sun in its full strength. Again, we see how the soul of the tzadik is compared to the sun.
The perek goes on to say that taking advice from someone who’s wise is like a fountain of life. He can take that advice with him wherever he goes, utilizing it to guide himself throughout his life.
A person who surrounds himself with the wise will eventually obtain wisdom, but one who keeps company with negative people will adopt their mindset. Those who love their children will utilize proper discipline when necessary.
The perek ends in verse 25, with the famous passuk of “Tzaddik ochel l’sovah nafsho, u’beten Reshaim techsar - a righteous person eats to satisfy his soul, but the stomach of the wicked will always lack.”
The simple meaning of this is brought by the Metsudos: the Tzaddik does not desire fancy foods and delicacies; he only seeks to be satiated. Reshaim are constantly desiring delicious foods, but at the end of the day never feel satisfied with what they eat.
B’derech mussar, this is apropos for nowadays, as people are obsessed with food and dieting. In fact, there's a new word for this—such a person is called a “foodie!” The Tzaddik, however, is satisfied with very little and isn't always looking to eat more.
The Vilna Gaon explains this passuk to mean that the Tzaddik has emunah that Hashem will provide for him. He therefore eats very little and feels no need to stuff himself.
The Ramad Walli explains al pi Kabbala that the Tzaddik receives shefa, Divine flow, and is supposed to use that light to influence the world in which we live. The nefesh, soul, is the receptacle which receives Hashem's shefa with which it can rule over the person. If Tzaddikim were to receive more light than is necessary, they would become haughty. They would use Hashem's extra dose of shefa to destroy evil in this world. This would inadvertently cause Hashem's world to be destroyed, which isn't what God wants. Therefore, He gives a limited amount of light to the Tzaddikim so that they can use it to build, and not destroy.
This is the meaning of the passuk: the Tzaddik eats a little bit of physical food so that his soul can receive more spiritual light which acts as its true sustenance.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily. We’ll be moving on to Perek 14.
Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.
