When you compare yourself to others

וְרָאִ֨יתִֽי אֲנִ֜י אֶת־כׇּל־עָמָ֗ל וְאֵת֙ כׇּל־כִּשְׁר֣וֹן הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה כִּ֛י הִ֥יא קִנְאַת־אִ֖ישׁ מֵרֵעֵ֑הוּ גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃

Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man’s rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

הַכְּסִיל֙ חֹבֵ֣ק אֶת־יָדָ֔יו וְאֹכֵ֖ל אֶת־בְּשָׂרֽוֹ׃

The fool foldeth his hands together, And eateth his own flesh.

ט֕וֹב מְלֹ֥א כַ֖ף נָ֑חַת מִמְּלֹ֥א חׇפְנַ֛יִם עָמָ֖ל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃

Better is a handful of quietness, Than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind.

מִזְמ֗וֹר לְאָ֫סָ֥ף אַ֤ךְ ט֖וֹב לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֱלֹהִ֗ים לְבָרֵ֥י לֵבָֽב׃

A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.

וַאֲנִ֗י כִּ֭מְעַט (נטוי) [נָטָ֣יוּ] רַגְלָ֑י כְּ֝אַ֗יִן (שפכה) [שֻׁפְּכ֥וּ] אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

כִּֽי־קִ֭נֵּאתִי בַּהוֹלְלִ֑ים שְׁל֖וֹם רְשָׁעִ֣ים אֶרְאֶֽה׃

For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

כִּ֤י אֵ֖ין חַרְצֻבּ֥וֹת לְמוֹתָ֗ם וּבָרִ֥יא אוּלָֽם׃

For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.

בַּעֲמַ֣ל אֱנ֣וֹשׁ אֵינֵ֑מוֹ וְעִם־אָ֝דָ֗ם לֹ֣א יְנֻגָּֽעוּ׃

In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.

לָ֭כֵן עֲנָקַ֣תְמוֹ גַאֲוָ֑ה יַעֲטָף־שִׁ֝֗ית חָמָ֥ס לָֽמוֹ׃

Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.

יָ֭צָא מֵחֵ֣לֶב עֵינֵ֑מוֹ עָ֝בְר֗וּ מַשְׂכִּיּ֥וֹת לֵבָֽב׃

Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.

יָמִ֤יקוּ ׀ וִידַבְּר֣וּ בְרָ֣ע עֹ֑שֶׁק מִמָּר֥וֹם יְדַבֵּֽרוּ׃

They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.

שַׁתּ֣וּ בַשָּׁמַ֣יִם פִּיהֶ֑ם וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗ם תִּהֲלַ֥ךְ בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth.

לָכֵ֤ן ׀ (ישיב) [יָשׁ֣וּב] עַמּ֣וֹ הֲלֹ֑ם וּמֵ֥י מָ֝לֵ֗א יִמָּ֥צוּ לָֽמוֹ׃

Therefore His people return hither; And waters of fullness are drained out by them.

וְֽאָמְר֗וּ אֵיכָ֥ה יָדַֽע־אֵ֑ל וְיֵ֖שׁ דֵּעָ֣ה בְעֶלְיֽוֹן׃

And they say: 'How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'

הִנֵּה־אֵ֥לֶּה רְשָׁעִ֑ים וְשַׁלְוֵ֥י ע֝וֹלָ֗ם הִשְׂגּוּ־חָֽיִל׃

Behold, such are the wicked; And they that are always at ease increase riches.

אַךְ־רִ֭יק זִכִּ֣יתִי לְבָבִ֑י וָאֶרְחַ֖ץ בְּנִקָּי֣וֹן כַּפָּֽי׃

Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;

וָאֱהִ֣י נָ֭גוּעַ כׇּל־הַיּ֑וֹם וְ֝תוֹכַחְתִּ֗י לַבְּקָרִֽים׃

For all the day have I been plagued, And my chastisement came every morning.

אִם־אָ֭מַרְתִּי אֲסַפְּרָ֥ה כְמ֑וֹ הִנֵּ֤ה ד֖וֹר בָּנֶ֣יךָ בָגָֽדְתִּי׃

If I had said: 'I will speak thus', Behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.

וָ֭אֲחַשְּׁבָה לָדַ֣עַת זֹ֑את עָמָ֖ל (היא) [ה֣וּא] בְעֵינָֽי׃

And when I pondered how I might know this, It was wearisome in mine eyes;

עַד־אָ֭בוֹא אֶל־מִקְדְּשֵׁי־אֵ֑ל אָ֝בִ֗ינָה לְאַחֲרִיתָֽם׃

Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, And considered their end.

אַ֣ךְ בַּ֭חֲלָקוֹת תָּשִׁ֣ית לָ֑מוֹ הִ֝פַּלְתָּ֗ם לְמַשּׁוּאֽוֹת׃

Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.

אֵ֤יךְ הָי֣וּ לְשַׁמָּ֣ה כְרָ֑גַע סָ֥פוּ תַ֝֗מּוּ מִן־בַּלָּהֽוֹת׃

How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.

כַּחֲל֥וֹם מֵהָקִ֑יץ אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י בָּעִ֤יר ׀ צַלְמָ֬ם תִּבְזֶֽה׃

As a dream when one awaketh, So, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.

כִּ֭י יִתְחַמֵּ֣ץ לְבָבִ֑י וְ֝כִלְיוֹתַ֗י אֶשְׁתּוֹנָֽן׃

For my heart was in a ferment, And I was pricked in my reins. .

וַאֲנִי־בַ֭עַר וְלֹ֣א אֵדָ֑ע בְּ֝הֵמ֗וֹת הָיִ֥יתִי עִמָּֽךְ׃

But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.

וַאֲנִ֣י תָמִ֣יד עִמָּ֑ךְ אָ֝חַ֗זְתָּ בְּיַד־יְמִינִֽי׃

Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.

בַּעֲצָתְךָ֥ תַנְחֵ֑נִי וְ֝אַחַ֗ר כָּב֥וֹד תִּקָּחֵֽנִי׃

Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, And afterward receive me with glory.

מִי־לִ֥י בַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְ֝עִמְּךָ֗ לֹא־חָפַ֥צְתִּי בָאָֽרֶץ׃

Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.

כָּלָ֥ה שְׁאֵרִ֗י וּלְבָ֫בִ֥י צוּר־לְבָבִ֥י וְחֶלְקִ֗י אֱלֹהִ֥ים לְעוֹלָֽם׃

My flesh and my heart faileth; But God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.

כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה רְחֵקֶ֣יךָ יֹאבֵ֑דוּ הִ֝צְמַ֗תָּה כׇּל־זוֹנֶ֥ה מִמֶּֽךָּ׃

For, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray from Thee.

וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ קִ֥רְבַ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֗ים לִ֫י־ט֥וֹב שַׁתִּ֤י ׀ בַּאדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֣ה מַחְסִ֑י לְ֝סַפֵּ֗ר כׇּל־מַלְאֲכוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Thy works.

לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ אַל־תִּתְחַ֥ר בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים אַל־תְּ֝קַנֵּ֗א בְּעֹשֵׂ֥י עַוְלָֽה׃

[A Psalm] of David. Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against them that work unrighteousness.

כִּ֣י כֶ֭חָצִיר מְהֵרָ֣ה יִמָּ֑לוּ וּכְיֶ֥רֶק דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃

For they shall soon wither like the grass, and fade as the green herb.

בְּטַ֣ח בַּ֭יהֹוָה וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב שְׁכׇן־אֶ֝֗רֶץ וּרְעֵ֥ה אֱמוּנָֽה׃

Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and cherish faithfulness.

וְהִתְעַנַּ֥ג עַל־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְיִֽתֶּן־לְ֝ךָ֗ מִשְׁאֲלֹ֥ת לִבֶּֽךָ׃

So shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and He shall give thee the petitions of thy heart.

גּ֣וֹל עַל־יְהֹוָ֣ה דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ וּבְטַ֥ח עָ֝לָ֗יו וְה֣וּא יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass.

הַמְקַנֵּא חוֹמֵס נַפְשׁוֹ, כִּי הוּא מִתְאַבֵּל תָּמִיד וְשִׂכְלוֹ מִתְחַסֵּר. וּמֵרֹב קִנְאָה הַטְּמוּנָה בְּקִרְבּוֹ – אֵין לִבּוֹ פָּנוּי לִלְמֹד וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל בְּכַוָּנָה, וְלַעֲשׂוֹת מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים.

An envious man does violence to his own soul, for he is constantly grieving and his intelligence grows less because of the abundance of jealousy concealed within him. His heart is not free to study and to pray with earnest intent and to do good deeds.

כָּל אָדָם מוֹצֵא טַעַם עָרֵב בְּמַאֲכָלוֹ חוּץ מִן הַמְקַנֵּא, שֶׁאֵינוֹ טוֹעֵם טַעַם טוֹב בְּמַאֲכָלוֹ עַד שֶׁתָּסוּר הַטּוֹבָה מֵחֲבֵרוֹ.

Every man finds a certain tastiness in his food, aside from the man who is jealous, for he cannot savor his food until good fortune departs from the object of his envy.

שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ לֹא־גָבַ֣הּ לִ֭בִּי וְלֹא־רָמ֣וּ עֵינַ֑י וְלֹֽא־הִלַּ֓כְתִּי ׀ בִּגְדֹל֖וֹת וּבְנִפְלָא֣וֹת מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

A Song of Ascents; of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in things too great, or in things too wonderful for me.

אִם־לֹ֤א שִׁוִּ֨יתִי ׀ וְדוֹמַ֗מְתִּי נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י כְּ֭גָמֻל עֲלֵ֣י אִמּ֑וֹ כַּגָּמֻ֖ל עָלַ֣י נַפְשִֽׁי׃

Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child with his mother; My soul is with me like a weaned child.

יַחֵ֣ל יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה מֵ֝עַתָּ֗ה וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם׃

O Israel, hope in the LORD From this time forth and for ever.

כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֤ל חָכָם֙ בְּחׇכְמָת֔וֹ וְאַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל הַגִּבּ֖וֹר בִּגְבוּרָת֑וֹ אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל עָשִׁ֖יר בְּעׇשְׁרֽוֹ׃

Thus saith the LORD: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, Let not the rich man glory in his riches;

כִּ֣י אִם־בְּזֹ֞את יִתְהַלֵּ֣ל הַמִּתְהַלֵּ֗ל הַשְׂכֵּל֮ וְיָדֹ֣עַ אוֹתִי֒ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה עֹ֥שֶׂה חֶ֛סֶד מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה בָּאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־בְאֵ֥לֶּה חָפַ֖צְתִּי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth, and knoweth Me, That I am the LORD who exercise mercy, justice, and righteousness, in the earth; for in these things I delight, Saith the LORD.

לָכֵן יִתְרַחֵק מִן הַקִּנְאָה וּמִן הַחֶמְדָּה, וְלֹא יַחְמֹד שׁוּם דָּבָר מִמָּה שֶׁבְּיַד אֲחֵרִים. וְלֹא יֹאמַר: אֶחֱמֹד בְּעִנְיְנֵי חֲבֵרִי, וְאֶתֵּן לוֹ מָעוֹת עֲבוּר אוֹתוֹ עִנְיָן; שֶׁאִם אֵין דַּעְתּוֹ לִמְכֹּר עִנְיָנָיו – אָז אָסוּר לָזֶה לְהַפְצִירוֹ, כִּי זֶה יִתְבַּיֵּשׁ לְהָשִׁיב פָּנָיו רֵיקָם, אִם כֵּן הוּא כְּמוֹ אֹנֶס. וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן אִם זֶה הַחוֹמֵד אִישׁ נִכְבָּד, שֶׁאִם יִשְׁאַל שְׁאֵלָה אוֹר פָּנָיו לֹא יַפִּילוּ – שֶׁאָסוּר לִשְׁאוֹל מֵחֲבֵרוֹ מַתָּנָה אִם אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁיִּתֵּן לוֹ בְּנֶפֶשׁ חֲפֵצָה.

Therefore, a man should remove himself from envy and lust, and should not covet anything that belongs to others, and he should not say : "I covet some of the possessions of my companion, and I'll give him money so as to obtain those things," for if he does not want to part with these possessions, then it is prohibited to press him for he will be ashamed to turn him away empty handed. If a person does this, then he is like a robber — like one who compels another to do something against his will. All the more so if the one who covets is a respected man, for whom it is forbidden to ask anything of a companion if one does not know beforehand that he will give this gift to him with a willing heart.

מָשְׁלוּ מָשָׁל: חוֹמֵד וְקַנַּאי פָּגַע בָּהֶם מֶלֶךְ אֶחָד. אָמַר לָהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ: אֶחָד מֵהֶם יִשְׁאַל דָּבָר מִמֶּנִּי וְיִנָּתֵן לוֹ, וְלַחֲבֵרוֹ בְּכִפְלַיִם. הַקַּנַּאי לֹא רָצָה לִשְׁאוֹל תְּחִלָּה, שֶׁהָיָה מִתְקַנֵּא אִם יִנָּתֵן לַחֲבֵרוֹ בְּכִפְלַיִם. וְהַחוֹמֵד הָיָה מִתְאַוֶּה שְׁנֵיהֶם. דָּחַק הַחוֹמֵד אֶת הַקַּנַּאי לִשְׁאוֹל: שָׁאַל לְנַקֵּר לוֹ עַיִן אַחַת, וְלַחֲבֵרוֹ שְׁתַּיִם.

A parable concerning this describes a lustful man and an envious man who were met by a certain king. The king said to them, "One of you may ask something of me, and I will give it to him, provided I give twice as much to his companion." The envious did not want to ask first for he was envious of his companion who would receive twice as much, and the lustful man wanted everything — wanted what belonged to both of them, so when the lustful man finally pressed the jealous man to ask for something, the jealous man asked the king to pluck out one of his eyes, because then his companion would have both eyes plucked out.