Vayishlach: Chapter 18

"If you faint in the day of adversity"

Synopsis

The rabbis show us that it is incumbent upon man to walk the path of righteousness and to hold tightly to the Torah. This way, we are told, the Evil Inclination becomes our Advocate rather than our Accuser, and rises to vouch for us before God. The sacrifice of the he-goat on Yom Kippur follows this principle. The sacrifice engages the Evil Inclination so that he will ascend and deliver favorable testimony to God. This principle, we learn, is seen in the example of Rachel's death, which was a punishment for Jacob. Because Jacob did not fulfill his vow to God, and because he uttered a "causeless curse" when he said to Laban, "Anyone with whom you find your Elohim," the Evil Inclination accused Rachel during a time of danger, and she perished.

Relevance

Spiritual Light gleams on this page, cleansing us of curses we have uttered in the past. A portion of this Light is given to the Evil Inclination, so that his words of praise replace his condemnation in the supernal courts protecting us from Judgments caused by our own negative deeds.

Congregation Hands Shechinah Strength Torah Tree Tree of Life

179. Come and behold. HE ASKS, In the verse, "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small" (Mishlei 24:10), what is the meaning of "you faint?" HE REPLIES, A man whose hands do not firmly hold on to the Holy One, blessed be He, to receive strength from Him. A man can be strengthened by stronger association with the Torah, for whoever is strengthened by the Torah holds more firmly to the Tree of Life, thereby giving power and strength to the Congregation of Yisrael, THE SHECHINAH.

179. תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב, הִתְרַפִּיתָ בְּיוֹם צָרָה צַר כֹּחֶכָה. מַאי הִתְרַפִּיתָ. מַאן דְּאִתְרַפֵּי יְדוֹי מִקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּלָא לְאִתְתַּקְּפָא בֵּיהּ. וְהֵיךְ יִתְקַף בַּר נָשׁ בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. יַתְקֵיף בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּכָל מַאן דְּאִתְתַּקַּף בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, אִתְתַּקַּף בְּאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי, כִּבְיָכוֹל, יְהַב תּוּקְפָא לִכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לְאִתְתַּקְפָא.

Shechinah Strength Torah

180. But if he relaxes his hold on the Torah, then he faints, and if he is faint in his hold on the Torah, then "in the day of adversity," his "strength is small." When trouble comes, he presses (meaning?) the Shechinah, which is the power of the world.

180. וְאִי הוּא יִתְרַפֵּא מֵאוֹרַיְיתָא, מַה כְּתִיב, הִתְרַפִּיתָ, אִי אִיהוּ אִתְרַפֵּי מִן אוֹרַיְיתָא, בְּיוֹם צָרָה צַר כֹּחֶכָה, בְּיוֹמָא דְיֵיתֵי לֵיהּ עָקוּ, כִּבְיָכוֹל דָּחִיק לָהּ לִשְׁכִינְתָּא, דְּאִיהוּ חֵילָא דְעַלְמָא.

Soul, The Strength Torah

181. Another explanation of the phrase, "your strength is small," is that when a man is faint in his hold on the Torah and walks a crooked path, many enemies wait to oppress him in a day of adversity. Even his own soul, his power and strength, become his foes and enemy. HE EXPLAINED THE WORDS, "YOUR STRENGTH IS SMALL (HEB. TZAR)," AS "YOUR STRENGTH IS AN ENEMY (HEB. TZAR)," WHICH REFERS TO HIS SOUL, WHICH REFLECTS A MAN'S STRENGTH.

181. ד"א צַר כֹּחֶכָה, תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְבַר נָשׁ אִתְרַפֵּי מֵאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְאָזֵיל בְּאָרְחָא דְלָא כַשְׁרָא, כַּמָּה בַּעֲלֵי דְבָבוּ זְמִינִין לֵיהּ, לִמֶהֱוֵי לֵיהּ קַטֵּיגוֹרִין בְּיוֹמָא דְעָקוּ. וַאֲפִילּוּ נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ דְּבַּר נָשׁ, דְּאִיהוּ חֵילָא וְתוֹקְפָא דִילֵיהּ, אִיהוּ מָארֵי דְבָבוּ לְקִבְלֵיהּ, דִּכְתִיב צַר כֹּחֶכָה, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ צַר לְגַבֵּיהּ.

Angels Evil Job Torah

182. Rabbi Aba said that when a man walks the path of the Torah and his ways are duly straight, many advocates stand ready to speak well of him. He opened the discussion with the verse, "If there be an angel over him, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man's uprightness, then He is gracious to him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom" (Iyov 33:23-24). We should study these verses carefully. Is not all revealed before the Holy One, blessed be He? Does He need an angel to announce before Him good and evil?

182. אֲמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְבַּר נָשׁ אָזֵיל בְּאָרְחֵי דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְכָל אָרְחוֹי מִתְתַּקְּנָן כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, כַּמָּה סָנֵיגוֹרִין קָיְימִין עֲלֵיהּ, לְאַדְכָּרָא לֵיהּ לְטַב. פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, אִם יֵשׁ עָלָיו מַלְאָךְ מֵלִיץ אֶחָד מִנִּי אָלֶף לְהַגִּיד לְאָדָם יָשְׁרוֹ וַיְחֻנֶּנּוּ וַיֹּאמֶר פְּדָעֵהוּ מֵרֶדֶת שַׁחַת מָצָאתִי כֹפֶר. הַנֵּי קְרָאֵי אִית לְאִסְתַּכָּלָא בְּהוֹ, וְכִי לָא אִתְגְּלֵי כֹּלָּא קַמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּאִיהוּ צָרִיךְ לְמַלְאכָא, דְּיֵימָא קַמֵּיהּ טַב אוֹ בִישׁ.

Angels Mercy Sin

183. HE ANSWERS, ALTHOUGH HE KNOWS EVERYTHING, He surely requires AN ANGEL TO AROUSE MERCY, because when a man has good intercessors who remind the Holy One, blessed be He, of his merits, and no one who speaks of his sins, then "He is gracious to him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom."

183. אֶלָּא וַדַּאי אִצְטְרִיךְ, דְּכַד אִית לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ סַנֵּיגוֹרִין, לְאַדְכָּרָא זְכוּ דִידֵיהּ קַמֵּיהּ, וְלָא אִית לֵיהּ קַטֵּיגוֹרִין, כְּדֵין וַיְחֻנֶּנּוּ וַיֹּאמֶר פְּדָעֵהוּ מֵרֶדֶת שַׁחַת מָצָאתִי כֹפֶר.

Angels Hands Ten

184. Come and behold, this verse clarifies the matter. It is written, "If there be an angel over him," which should be sufficient. Yet it continues, "an intercessor, one among a thousand." WE SHOULD THEREFORE FIND OUT who he is. HE SAID, This is the angel whose duty it is to be on the left side of man, as it is written, "A thousand shall fall at your side" (Tehilim 91:7). We know this to be the left side from the following words, "and ten thousand at your right hand," (Ibid.) WHICH MEANS THAT "AT YOUR SIDE" (WHICH APPEARS EARLIER) REFERS TO THE LEFT SIDE.

184. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּהַאי קְרָא תִּשְׁכַּח בְּרִירָא דְמִלָּה, כְּתִיב אִם יֵשׁ עָלָיו מַלְאָךְ, אִי לָא כְתִיב יַתִּיר, יָאוֹת הוּא. אֲבָל מַלְאָךְ מֵלִיץ אֶחָד מִנִּי אָלֶף כְּתִיב, וּמַאן אִיהוּ. דָּא הוּא מַלְאָךְ, דִּמְמַנָּא עִמֵּיהּ דְּבַּר נָשׁ, בִּסְטַר שְׂמָאלָא, דִּכְתִיב יִפֹּל מִצִּדְךָ אֶלֶף, וְדָא הוּא סִטְרָא דִשְׂמָאלָא, דִּכְתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ וּרְבָבָה מִימִינֶךָ.

Demons Evil Evil Inclination

185. The "one among a thousand" is the Evil Inclination, one of the thousand DEMONS of the left side. He ascends to receive permission TO COME DOWN AND KILL. But when a man walks the path of righteousness, the Evil Inclination becomes his servant, as it is written, "Better is one lightly esteemed who owns a servant" (Mishlei 12:9). He then ascends and becomes his advocate, recalling his merits before the Holy One, blessed be He, and the Holy One, blessed be He, says, "Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom."

185. אֲבָל אֶחָד מִנִּי אֶלֶף, דָּא הוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע, דְּאִיהוּ אֶחָד מֵאִנּוּן אֶלֶף, דַּהֲווֹ לִסְטַר שְׂמָאלָא, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ סָלֵיק לְעֵילָא, וְנָטֵיל רְשׁוּ. וְע"ד, אִי בַּר נָשׁ אָזֵיל בְּאֹרַח קְשׁוֹט, הַהוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע, אִיהוּ עֶבֶד לוֹ, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר דִּכְתִיב טוֹב נִקְלֶה וְעֶבֶד לוֹ, כְּדֵין אִיהוּ סָלֵיק, וְאִתְעֲבֵיד סַנֵּיגוֹרָא, וַאֲמַר קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא זְכוּ עֲלֵיהּ דְּבַּר נָשׁ. כְּדֵין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אֲמַר, פְּדָעֵהוּ מֵרֶדֶת שָׁחַת.

Evil Evil Inclination Sin Soul, The

186. With all that, the Evil Inclination does not return empty-handed. Another man is delivered to him, one whose soul he may take because this man's sins are already known. HE IS CHARGED FOR THEM and is held ransom for the man who escaped. This is the meaning of the sentence, "I have found a ransom," (to redeem him).

186. וְעִם כָּל דָּא, לָא אַהֲדַר בְּרֵיקַנְיָא, בְּגִין דְּאִתְיְהֵיב לֵיהּ אָחֳרָא, לְשַׁלְטָאָה עֲלוֹי, וְלִיטּוֹל נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ מִנֵּיהּ, בְּגִין דְּאַקְדֵּים חוֹבוֹי דְּהַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ, וְאִיהוּ כֹּפֶר עַל הַאי, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב מָצָאתִי כֹּפֶר לְמִפְדֵי לֵיהּ.

Angels Gehenom (Hell) Hell (Gehenom) Merit

187. Another explanation of the words, "I have found a ransom," is that THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, SAYS TO THE ANGEL: The merit you mentioned shall be THAT MAN'S ransom. It will redeem him from dying and going down to Gehenom. Therefore, it behooves a man to walk the path of Truth, so that his accuser shall turn into his advocate.

187. ד"א מָצָאתִי כֹפֶר, הַהוּא זְכוּ דַּאֲמַרְתְּ, אִיהוּ עֲלֵיהּ כֹּפֶר, לְמִפְדֵי לֵיהּ. דְּלָא יֵחוֹת לַגֵּיהִנֹּם, וְלָא יְמוּת. וְעַל דָּא מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ, לְמֵיהַךְ בְּאֹרַח קְשׁוֹט, וּבְגִין דִּיְהֵא לֵיהּ הַהוּא קַטֵּיגוֹרָא, סַנֵּיגוֹרָא.

Bread Evil Evil Inclination Goats Samael Solomon Water Yom Kippur

188. Similarly, Yisrael employ such means on Yom Kippur, by giving THE EVIL INCLINATION, SAMAEL, a goat, NAMELY, A SCAPEGOAT, and thus engaging it until it becomes their servant and ascends to testify before the Holy One, blessed be He, as their intercessor. Solomon said of the Evil Inclination, "If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat: and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink" (Mishlei 25:21).

188. כְּגַוְונָא דָא, יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּיוֹמָא דְכִפּוּרֵי, דְּיַהֲבֵי לֵיהּ שָׂעִיר, וְאִתְעַסִּיקוּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ, עַד דְּאִתְהֲדַר עֶבֶד לְהוֹ, וְסָלֵיק וְסָהֵיד סַהֲדוּתָא קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְאִתְעֲבֵיד לְהוֹ סַנֵּיגוֹרָא. וְעַל דָּא אֲמַר שְׁלֹמֹה, אִם רָעֵב שׂנַאֲךָ הַאֲכִילֵהוּ לֶחֶם וְאִם צָמֵא הַשְׁקֵהוּ מַיִם. וְעַל הַאי יֵצֶר הָרָע אִתְּמָר.

Evil Evil Inclination Koh Shechinah Strength Torah

189. Therefore, "on a day of adversity," when man's hold on the Torah is faint, it is as if he brings the Holy One, blessed be He, to HEAR THE ACCUSATIONS OF the Evil Inclination, who becomes his persecutor. THEN, IT IS A DAY OF ADVERSITY, WHEN "your strength is small" (Heb. tzar kochechah), WHICH CONSISTS OF THE WORD tzar koach koh. THIS MAKES SMALL THE POWER (KOACH) OF THE SHECHINAH, REFERRED TO AS KOH, because THE EVIL INCLINATION approaches the presence of THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, to accuse, and the strength OF THE SHECHINAH is diminished BECAUSE OF IT.

189. וּבְגִין דָּא, בְּיוֹם צָרָה, כַּד בַּר נָשׁ אִתְרַפֵּי מֵאוֹרַיְיתָא, כִּבְיָכוֹל דָּחִיק לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בַּהֲדֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע, דְּאִיהוּ אִתְעֲבֵיד קַטֵּיגוֹרָא. צַר כֹּחֶכָה: צַר כֹּחַ כֹּה, בְּגִין דְּאִתְקָרֵב קַמֵּיהּ לְקַטְרְגָא, וְאִתְחַלַּשׁ חֵילָא.

Esau Jacob Judgment Rachel

190. Come and behold, "Hashem is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble." HE ASKS, What is this "day of trouble?" HE ANSWERS, The time when Esau came to accuse Jacob. "He knows them that trust in Him" is when Judgment was severe upon him AND RACHEL DIED, AS WILL BE EXPLAINED.

190. תָּא חֲזֵי, טוֹב יי' לְמָעוֹז בְּיוֹם צָרָה, מַאי בְּיוֹם צָרָה. דָּא יַעֲקֹב כַּד אָתָא עֲלֵיהּ עֵשָׂו, לְקַטְרְגָא לֵיהּ. וְיוֹדֵעַ חוֹסֵי בוֹ, כַּד אָתָא עֲלֵיהּ עָקוּ דְדִינָא.

Angel of Death Angels Jacob Judgment Punishment Rachel Vow

191. Come and behold, the Accuser is upon man only at a time of danger. Come and see, because Jacob was late COMPLETING his vow, which he made before the Holy One, blessed be He, the Accuser exacted Judgment from him and demanded justice at the time when Rachel was in danger. He said to the Holy One, blessed be He, Jacob did not fulfill his vow. Although he has wealth and many sons, and lacks nothing, he did not fulfill his vow made before You, and yet You have exacted no punishment. Immediately, "Rachel travailed and was in hard labor" (Beresheet 35:16), because this was the severe judgment that the Angel of Death exacted from him.

191. וְתָא חֲזֵי, לֵית מְקַטְרְגָא אִשְׁתַּכַּח עֲלֵיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ, אֶלָּא בְּזִמְנָא דְסַכָּנָה, וְתָא חֲזֵי, בְּגִין דְּיַעֲקֹב אַחַר נִדְרֵיהּ, דִּנְדֵיר קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אִתְתַּקַּף דִּינָא עַל יְדָא דִּמְקַטְרְגָא, דְּקַטְרֵיג עֲלֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב, וּבָעָא דִינָא בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְסַכָּנָה, דַּהֲוַת רָחֵל בָּהּ, אֲמַר קַמֵּיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְהָא יַעֲקֹב נְדַר נִדְרֵיהּ וְלָא שְׁלִים, וְהָא אִיהוּ תַּקִּיף מִכֹּלָּא, בְּעוֹתְרָא, וּבִבְנִין, בְּכָל מַה דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ, וְלָא שְׁלִים נִדְרֵיהּ דִּנְדַר קַמָּךְ, וְלָא נָסַבְתְּ עוֹנָשָׁא מִנֵּיהּ, מִיָּד וַתֵּלֶד רָחֵל וַתְּקַשׁ בְּלִדְתָּהּ. מַאי וַתְּקַשׁ. דְּאִתְקַשֵּׁי דִינָא לְעֵילָא, גַּבֵּי מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת.

Angel of Death Angels Jacob Judgment Punishment Rachel

192. HE ASKS, Why was Jacob punished in this manner? HE REPLIES, This is in accordance with the verse, "If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you" (Mishlei 22:27). Therefore Rachel died; this was the judgment exacted by the Angel of Death.

192. וְאִתְעַנַּשׁ יַעֲקֹב בְּהַאי, מַאי טַעְמָא. בְּגִין דִּכְתִיב, וְאִם אֵין לְךָ לְשַׁלֵּם לָמָּה יִקַּח מִשְׁכָּבְךָ מִתַּחְתֶּיךָ, וְעַל דָּא מִיתַת רָחֵל, וְאִתְמְסַר דִּינָא, עַל יְדָא דְּמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת.

Esau Fear Jacob Joseph Leah Rachel Wicked Wickedness

193. Come and behold, what did JACOB do when Esau came? "And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph last of all" (Beresheet 33:2). What prompted him to do so? He was afraid for Rachel, lest that wicked man should behold her beauty and attack him because of it.

193. וְתָא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דַּאֲתָא עֵשָׂו, מָה עֲבַד, וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת הַשְּׂפָחוֹת וְאֶת יַלְדֵיהֶן רִאשׁוֹנָה וְאֶת לֵאָה וִילָדֶיהָ אַחֲרוֹנִים וְאֶת רָחֵל וְאֶת יוֹסֵף אַחֲרוֹנִים, מַאי טַעְמָא, בְּגִין דְּדָחִיל עֲלָה דְרָחֵל, דְּלָא יִסְתַּכַּל הַהוּא רָשָׁע, בְּשַׁפִּירוּ דִילָהּ, וְלָא יְקַטְרֵג לֵיהּ עֲלָהּ.

Body Eyes Joseph Leah Rachel Well Wicked Wickedness Women

194. It is also written, "Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves" (Beresheet 33:6), the women before the men. But of Rachel the verse says, "and after came Joseph near and Rachel." Joseph stood before his mother, covering and concealing her. Thus the words, "Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well" (Beresheet 49:22), whose body grew bigger to protect his mother; "by a well (lit. 'an eye')" refers to that wicked man's eye, THAT MAN WHO MUST NOT GLANCE AT HER.

194. תוּ, מַה כְּתִיב, וַתִּגַּשְׁןָֹ הַשְׁפָחוֹת הֵנָּה וְיַלְדֵיהֶן וַתִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶיןָ וַתִּגַּשׁ גַּם לֵאָה וִילָדֶיהָ וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ, נָשִׁין מִקַּמֵּי גוּבְרִין. אֲבָל בְּרָחֵל מַה כְּתִיב, וְאַחַר נִגַּשׁ יוֹסֵף וְרָחֵל, וְיוֹסֵף מִקַּמֵי אִמֵּיהּ, וְאִיהוּ חִפָּא עֲלָהּ, וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, בֶּן פּוֹרָת יוֹסֵף בֶּן פּוֹרָת עֲלֵי עָיִן, דְּאַסְגֵי גוּפֵיהּ, וְחִפָּא עַל אִמֵּיהּ. עֲלֵי עָיִן: עֲלֵי עֵינָא דְהַהוּא רָשָׁע.

Evil Evil Inclination Jacob Punishment Rachel Vow

195. Here, RACHEL was punished by the Evil Inclination, which accused her in a time of danger and punished Jacob for his unfulfilled vow. This was harder for Jacob than all his previous troubles. From the words, "Rachel died by me" (Beresheet 48:7), We know that RACHEL DIED because of Jacob -- surely this happened because of me, because I tarried in FULFILLING my vow.

195. וְהָכָא אִתְעֲנָשַׁת עַל יְדָא דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע, דְּקִטְרֵג בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְסַכָּנָה, וְאִתְעַנַּשׁ יַעֲקֹב, עַל נִדְרָא דְּלָא שְׁלִים, וְדָא קַשְׁיָא לֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב, מִכָּל עָקוּ דַּעֲבָרוּ עֲלֵיהּ. וּמְנָלָן דִּבְגִינֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב הֲוָה, דִּכְתִיב מֵתָה עָלַי רָחֵל: עָלַי וַדַּאי, עַל דַּאֲחָרִית נִדְרִי.

Curse Evil Evil Inclination Righteous

196. Rabbi Yosi said, It is written, "a curse that is causeless shall (lit. 'not;' Heb. lo, Lamed Aleph) come home" (Mishlei 26:2). This has been interpreted as lo (Lamed Vav) - "to him," SO IT WOULD SAY: "A CURSE THAT IS CAUSELESS SHALL COME TO HIM." THIS TEACHES US THAT once a righteous man curses, even if he did not mean TO CURSE, it is received by the Evil Inclination, who uses it to accuse in times of danger.

196. רִבִּי יוֹסֵי אֲמַר, כְּתִיב קִלְּלַת חִנָּם לֹא תָבֹא. וְאוֹקְמוּהָ לוֹ בְּוי"ו, דְּאִי קִלְּלַת צַדִּיקָא הִיא, אֲפִילּוּ דְּלָא אִתְכַּוַּן בָּהּ, כֵּיוָן דְּנָפְקָא מִפּוּמֵיהּ, נְטַל לָהּ הַהוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע, וְקַטְרַג בָּהּ בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְסַכָּנָה.

Curse Jacob Punishment Rachel Righteous Satan, The Vow

197. Jacob said, "Anyone with whom you find your Elohim, let him not live" (Beresheet 31:32). Although he did not know THAT RACHEL HAD STOLEN THEM, the Satan, who constantly abides among men, heard these words AND USED THEM TO ACCUSE IN A TIME OF DANGER. We therefore learned that a man should never open his mouth for the Satan, because he takes that utterance and uses it to accuse above and below, especially if the utterance came from the mouth of a righteous man or a sage. Rachel was punished for two reasons, BECAUSE JACOB WAS LATE IN FULFILLING HIS VOW, AND BECAUSE OF THE CURSE HE UTTERED.

197. יַעֲקֹב אֲמַר, עִם אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא אֶת אֱלֹהֶיךָ לֹא יִחְיֶה. וְאַף עַל גָּב דְּאִיהוּ לָא הֲוָה יָדַע, נְטֵיל לָהּ לְהַהִיא מִלָּה הַהוּא שָׂטָן, דְּאִשְׁתַּכַּח גַּבַּיְיהוּ תָּדִיר בִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא. וְעַל דָּא תָּגִינָן, לְעוֹלָם לֹא יִפְתַּח בַּר נָשׁ פּוּמֵיהּ לְשִׂטְנָא, בְּגִין דְּנָטֵיל הַהִיא מִלָּה, וְקַטְרַג בָּהּ, לְעֵילָא וְתַתָּא, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן מִלָּה דְחָכָם, אוֹ מִלָּה דְצַדִּיקָא, וְעַל תְּרֵין אִלֵּין אִתְעֲנָשַׁת רָחֵל.

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