April 3, 2019 · 00:04:13
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, discomf