Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Musar for Sotah 82:15

ואמר רבי אלעזר כל המחניף לחבירו סוף נופל בידו ואם אינו נופל בידו נופל ביד בניו ואם אינו נופל ביד בניו נופל ביד בן בנו שנא' (ירמיהו כח, ה) ויאמר ירמיה לחנניה אמן כן יעשה ה' יקם ה' את דבריך וכתי'

Not only that, but their prayer remains unheard; as it continues, They cry not for help when He chasteneth them.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because their cry receives no response. ');"><sup>13</sup></span> (Mnemonic:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 171, n. 6. The first word refers to what has just preceded. ');"><sup>14</sup></span> Anger, embryo, Gehinnom, in his hand, menstruant, exile). R. Eleazar also said: As for any man in whom is flattery, even the embryos in their mothers' wombs curse him; as it is said: He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. XXIV, 24. ');"><sup>15</sup></span> — the word kob ['abhor'] means nothing but 'curse', as it is said: Whom God hath not cursed;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXIII, 8. ');"><sup>16</sup></span> and le'om [nation] means nothing but 'embryo', as it is said: And the one le'om [nation] shall be stronger than the other nation.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Gen. XXV, 23. The context deals with the unborn sons of Rebekkah. ');"><sup>17</sup></span> R. Eleazar also said: Every man in whom is flattery will fall into Gehinnom; as it is said: Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. V, 20. ');"><sup>18</sup></span> What is Written after that? Therefore as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, and as the dry grass sinketh down in the flame etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 24. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> R. Eleazar also said: Whoever flattereth his neighbour<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Var. lec. 'the wicked'] ');"><sup>20</sup></span> will finally fall into his hand; if he does not fall into his hand, he will fall into the hand of his sons; and if he does not fall into his sons' hand, he will fall into the hand of his grandsons; as it is stated: And Jeremiah said to Hananiah, Amen; the Lord do so; the Lord perform thy words,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Jer. XXVIII, 6. In the Massoretic text the reading is 'The prophet Jeremiah said: Amen; the Lord etc.' ');"><sup>21</sup></span> and it is written,

Orchot Tzadikim

Rabbi Simon, the son of Halafta said, "From the date that the power of flattery grew strong, laws have been twisted and deeds have been perverted, and no man was able to say honestly to his companion, 'My deeds are greater than your deeds.' " Said Rabbi Elazar, "Every man that has flattery in his nature, brings wrath upon the world," as it is said, "But they that are godless in heart lay up anger" (Job 36:13). Not only this, but his prayer is not heard, as it is said, "They cry not for help when He bindeth them" (ibid). And even the unborn children, still in the wombs of their mothers, curse him, and he falls into Gehennah. And everyone who flatters a wicked man falls into his hand. And if he does not fall into his hand, then he falls into the hand of the son of the wicked man, and if he does not fall into the hand of his son, then he falls in the hand of his grandson (Sotah 41b). Every congregation that has within it the trait of flattery is as loathsome as a woman in her impurity, and in the end will be exiled (Sotah 42a).
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