Tehillim 51 – Rich Man – Poor Man

Zohar on Tehillim: Rich Man – Poor Man

Tehillim 51:19  - “Zivchei Elohim ruach nishbarah, lev nishbar ve-nidkeh, Elohim lo tivzeh” - (A broken and contrite heart, and a humble and meek spirit).  Rabbi Elazar asked Rabbi Shimon, his father: “We have learned that famine comes upon the world because of three sins. These are all sins that are common among the wealthy, for their hearts have become hardened, but they are not characteristic of the poor. What, then, is the meaning of this punishment, if the Holy One, blessed be He, destroys the poor while preserving the lives of the wealthy, who will continue to sin before Him?” He said to him: “You have asked an excellent question. The Companions answered it as follows: - “When the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to punish sinners and eradicate them from the world, He sends them prosperity and grants them abundance in everything.” (It is said in Kiddushin (39b) concerning this: “To one whose merits are greater than his sins, suffering is sent, and he becomes like a person who has burned the entire Torah and left not even a single letter of it. To one whose sins are greater than his merits, prosperity is sent, and he becomes like a person who has fulfilled the entire Torah and lost not a single letter. The commentators explain: suffering is sent so that he may receive mercy in the World to Come; prosperity is sent so that his reward may be paid to him in this world.”) But come and see. Among the inhabitants of the earth, there are none closer to the Supreme King than the vessels with which He is served. And who are they? - “A broken and contrite heart, and a humble and meek spirit...” Tehillim 51:19 - these are the King's vessels. And when calamity befalls the world, and famine and punishment descend upon the poor, they cry out and plead before the King, and the Holy One, blessed be He, is closest to them all. Concerning this it is said: - “For He has neither despised nor abhorred the plight of the poor.” (Tehillim 22:25) Then the Holy One, blessed be He, remembers what brought famine upon the world. Woe to the sinful ones who caused this! When the cry of the poor calls upon the King to look upon the world (May the Merciful One protect us from them and from their suffering), it is written: - “I will surely hear his cry.” (Shemot 22:22) - “I will surely hear” - twice: once to heed their voice, and a second time to punish those who caused it. Concerning this it is said: - “And I will hear, for I am compassionate, and My anger will burn…” (Shemot 22:23, 26) Therefore, when famine prevails in the world, woe to the wealthy sinners because of the poor people's cries before the Holy One, blessed be He. Come and see. The offering of a poor person is the most acceptable of all, because his heart is broken. And although sinful thoughts visit him, they do not remain within him, for he has enough worries concerning himself and the members of his household: “He will save the poor man in his distress” - He will reward him for his suffering and save him from Gehinnom on the day of judgment. (Yevamot 102b) Therefore, every offering from any of them is equally significant to the kohen.  (Zohar III, 8b–9a, translated by Kravtsov, Jewishbook)