Work and money

שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אַ֭שְׁרֵי כׇּל־יְרֵ֣א יְהֹוָ֑ה הַ֝הֹלֵ֗ךְ בִּדְרָכָֽיו׃

A Song of Ascents. Happy is every one that feareth the LORD, That walketh in His ways.

יְגִ֣יעַ כַּ֭פֶּיךָ כִּ֣י תֹאכֵ֑ל אַ֝שְׁרֶ֗יךָ וְט֣וֹב לָֽךְ׃

When thou eatest the labour of thy hands, Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

אֶשְׁתְּךָ֤ ׀ כְּגֶ֥פֶן פֹּרִיָּה֮ בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֢י בֵ֫יתֶ֥ךָ בָּ֭נֶיךָ כִּשְׁתִלֵ֣י זֵיתִ֑ים סָ֝בִ֗יב לְשֻׁלְחָנֶֽךָ׃

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, in the innermost parts of thy house; Thy children like olive plants, round about thy table.

הִנֵּ֣ה כִי־כֵ֭ן יְבֹ֥רַךְ גָּ֗בֶר יְרֵ֣א יְהֹוָֽה׃

Behold, surely thus shall the man be blessed That feareth the LORD.

יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֗ה מִצִּ֫יּ֥וֹן וּ֭רְאֵה בְּט֣וּב יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם כֹּ֝֗ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּֽיךָ׃

The LORD bless thee out of Zion; And see thou the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life;

וּרְאֵֽה־בָנִ֥ים לְבָנֶ֑יךָ שָׁ֝ל֗וֹם עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

And see thy children's children. Peace be upon Israel!

שָׁ֤וְא ׀ וּֽדְבַר־כָּזָ֡ב הַרְחֵ֬ק מִמֶּ֗נִּי רֵ֣אשׁ וָ֭עֹשֶׁר אַל־תִּֽתֶּן־לִ֑י הַ֝טְרִיפֵ֗נִי לֶ֣חֶם חֻקִּֽי׃

Remove far from me falsehood and lies; Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with mine allotted bread;

פֶּ֥ן־אֶשְׂבַּ֨ע ׀ וְכִחַשְׁתִּי֮ וְאָמַ֗רְתִּי מִ֥י־יְ֫הֹוָ֥ה וּפֶֽן־אִוָּרֵ֥שׁ וְגָנַ֑בְתִּי וְ֝תָפַ֗שְׂתִּי שֵׁ֣ם אֱלֹהָֽי׃

Lest I be full, and deny, and say: ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or lest I be poor, and steal, And profane the name of my God.

וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ כֹּחִי֙ וְעֹ֣צֶם יָדִ֔י עָ֥שָׂה לִ֖י אֶת־הַחַ֥יִל הַזֶּֽה׃

and thou say in thy heart: ‘My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth.’

וְזָֽכַרְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ כִּ֣י ה֗וּא הַנֹּתֵ֥ן לְךָ֛ כֹּ֖חַ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת חָ֑יִל לְמַ֨עַן הָקִ֧ים אֶת־בְּרִית֛וֹ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לַאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God, for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

וְהַבּוֹטֵחַ בַּיְיָ יַשִּׂיג תּוֹעֶלֶת הַמָּמוֹן רְצוֹנִי לוֹמַר פַּרְנָסָתוֹ וְתִמָּנַע מִמֶּנּוּ טִרְדַּת הַמַּחְשָׁבָה שֶׁל בַּעַל הַמָּמוֹן וְהַתְמָדַת דַּאֲגָתוֹ לוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הֶחָכָם מְתוּקָה שְׁנַת הָעֹבֵד אִם מְעַט וְאִם הַרְבֵּה יֹאכֵל וְהַשָּׂבָע לֶעָשִׁיר אֵינֶנּוּ מַנִּיחַ לוֹ לִישׁוֹן (קהלת ה יא).

One who trusts in G-d will receive the benefits of money, namely, his material needs, but without the mental distraction and constant worry of the wealthy, as the wise man said "The sleep of the laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the satiety of the rich does not allow him to sleep" (Koheles 5:11).

וּמֵהֶן כִּי הַבּוֹטֵחַ בַּיְיָ לֹא יִמְנָעֶנּוּ רֹב הַמָּמוֹן מִבְּטֹחַ בַּיְיָ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵינֶנּוּ סוֹמֵךְ עַל הַמָּמוֹן וְהוּא בְּעֵינָיו כְּפִקָּדוֹן צֻוָּה לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ עַל פָּנִים מְיֻחָדִים וּבְעִנְיָנִים מְיֻחָדִים לִזְמַן קָצוּב. וְאִם יַתְמִיד קִיּוּמוֹ אֶצְלוֹ לֹא יִבְעַט בַּעֲבוּרוֹ וְלֹא יַזְכִּיר טוֹבָתוֹ לְמִי שֶׁצִּוָּה לָתֵת לוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ וְלֹא יְבַקֵּשׁ עָלָיו גְּמוּל הוֹדָאָה וְשֶׁבַח אֲבָל הוּא מוֹדֶה לְבוֹרְאוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ אֲשֶׁר שָׂמָהוּ סִבָּה לַטּוֹבוֹת.

Another benefit, one who trusts in G-d will not diminish his trust on account of having much wealth because he does not rely on the money. He regards it as a deposit which he is ordered to use in specific ways, for specific matters and for a limited time. And if he stays wealthy for a long time, he will not become arrogant due to his wealth. He will not remind the poor person of his charity gifts since he was commanded to give to him, and he will not seek his gratitude and praises. Rather, he will thank his Creator who appointed him as a means for doing good to the poor person.

וְאִם יֹאבַד הַמָּמוֹן מִמֶּנּוּ לֹא יִדְאַג וְלֹא יֶאֱבַל לְחֶסְרוֹנוֹ אַךְ הוּא מוֹדֶה לֵאלֹהָיו בְּקַחְתּוֹ פִּקְדוֹנוֹ מֵאִתּוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר הוֹדָה בִּנְתִינָתוֹ לוֹ וְיִשְׂמַח בְּחֶלְקוֹ וְאֵינֶנּוּ מְבַקֵּשׁ הֶזֵּק זוּלָתוֹ וְלֹא יַחְמֹד אָדָם בְּמָמוֹנוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הֶחָכָם (משלי יג כה) צַדִּיק אֹכֵל לְשֹׂבַע נַפְשׁוֹ.

If his wealth is lost, he will not worry nor mourn his loss. Rather, he will thank his Creator for taking back His deposit, just like he thanked G-d when it was given to him. He will be happy with his portion, and will not seek to damage others . He will not covet other people's wealth as the wise man said "A righteous man eats to sate his appetite, [but the stomach of the wicked shall feel want]." (Mishlei 13:25).

וּלְכָל אָדָם יֵשׁ חֵפֶץ בִּמְלָאכָה אוֹ סְחוֹרָה מִבִּלְתִּי זוּלָתָהּ כְּבָר הִטְבִּיעַ הָאֵל לָהּ בְּטִבְעוֹ אַהֲבָה וְחִבָּה וְכֵן בִּשְׁאָר הַחַיִּים כְּמוֹ שֶׁהִטְבִּיעַ בְּטֶבַע הֶחָתוּל צֵידַת הָעַכְבָּרִים וּבְטֶבַע הַנֵּץ צֵידַת מָה שֶׁרָאוּי לוֹ מִן הָעוֹף וּבְטֶבַע הָאַיָּל צֵידַת הַנְּחָשִׁים. וְכֵן יֵשׁ מִן הָעוֹפוֹת שֶׁיָּצוּדוּ הַדָּגִים לְבַד וְכֵן בְּטֶבַע מִין וּמִין מִמִּינֵי הַחַיִּים נְטִיָּה וְתַאֲוָה אֶל מִין מִמִּינֵי הַצְּמָחִים וְהַחַיִּים הָטְבַּע עָלָיו לִהְיוֹת סִבָּה לִמְזוֹנוֹ וּתְכוּנַת גּוּפוֹ וְאֵבָרָיו רְאוּיִין לַדָּבָר הַהוּא כַּפֶּה הָאָרֹךְ וְהַשּׁוֹק הָאָרֹךְ לָעוֹף שֶׁהוּא צָד אֶת הַדָּגִים וְכַשֵּׁן וְהַצִּפֹּרֶן הֶחָזָק לָאֲרִי וְהַקַּרְנַיִם לַשּׁוֹר וְלָאַיִל וַאֲשֶׁר תֻּכַּן מְזוֹנוֹ מִן הַצֶּמַח לֹא נָתַן לוֹ כְּלֵי הַצַּיִד וְהַטֶּרֶף.

Every man has a preference for a particular work or business over others. G-d has already implanted in his nature a love and fondness for it, as He implanted in a cat's nature the hunting of mice, or the falcon to hunt smaller birds, the deer to trap snakes. Some birds hunt only fish, and likewise, each animal species has a liking and desire for particular plants or animals, which G-d has implanted to be the means for its sustenance, and the structure of its body and limbs is suited for that thing. The long bill and legs of a fish catching bird, or the strong teeth and claws of the lion, horns of the ox and ram (i.e. for defense - TL), while animals whose sustenance is from plants do not have the tools to hunt and kill.

וְעַל הַדִּמְיוֹן הַזֶּה תִּמְצָא מִדּוֹת בְּנֵי אָדָם וְגוֹפוֹתָם מוּכָנוֹת לִסְחוֹרוֹת וְלַמְּלָאכוֹת. וּמִי שֶׁמּוֹצֵא בְּמִדּוֹתָיו וְטִבְעוֹ כֹּסֶף אֶל מְלָאכָה מֵהַמְּלָאכוֹת וְיִהְיֶה גּוּפוֹ רָאוּי לָהּ וְיוּכַל לִסְבֹּל אֶת טָרְחָהּ יְחַזֵּר עָלֶיהָ וְיָשִׂים אוֹתָהּ סִבָּה לַהֲבָאַת מְזוֹנוֹ וְיִסְבֹּל מִתְקָהּ וּמְרִירוּתָהּ וְאַל יָקוֹץ כְּשֶׁיִּמָּנַע מִמֶּנּוּ הַטֶּרֶף בִּקְצָת הָעִתִּים אַךְ יִבְטַח בֵּאלֹהִים שֶׁיַּסְפִּיק לוֹ טַרְפּוֹ כָּל יְמֵי חַיָּיו. וִיכַוֵּן בְּטִרְדַּת לִבּוֹ וְגוּפוֹ בְּסִבָּה מִן הַסִּבּוֹת וְהַסִּבּוּב עָלֶיהָ לַעֲמֹד בְּמִצְוַת הַבּוֹרֵא שֶׁצִּוָּה הָאָדָם לְהִתְעַסֵּק בְּסִבּוֹת הָעוֹלָם כַּעֲבוֹדַת הָאֲדָמָה וַחֲרִישָׁתָהּ וּזְרִיעָתָהּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (בראשית ב טו) וַיִּקַּח ה׳ אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם וַיַּנִּחֵהוּ בְגַן עֵדֶן לְעָבְדָהּ וּלְשָׁמְרָהּ, וּלְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בִּשְׁאָר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים בְּתוֹעֲלוֹתָיו וּמְזוֹנָיו וּבִנְיַן הַמְּדִינוֹת וַהֲכָנַת הַמְּזוֹנוֹת וּלְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בַּנָּשִׁים וְלִבְעֹל אוֹתָן לְהַרְבּוֹת הַזֶּרַע.

Similarly you will find among human beings character traits and body structures suited for certain businesses or activity. One who finds his nature and personality attracted to a certain occupation, and his body is suited for it, that he will be able to bear its demands - he should pursue it, and make it his means of earning a livelihood, and he should bear its pleasures and pains, and not be upset when sometimes his income is withheld, rather let him trust in G-d that He will support him all of his days. And he should have intention when his mind and body is occupied with one of the means of earning a living to fulfill the commandment of the Creator to pursue the means of the world, such as working the land, plowing and sowing it, as written "And G-d took the man and placed him in Gan Eden to work it and to guard it" (Bereishis 2:15), and also to use other living creatures for his benefit and sustenance, and for building cities and preparing food, and to marry a woman and have relations to populate the world.

וְיִהְיֶה נִשְׂכָּר עַל כַּוָּנָתוֹ בָּהֶם לֵאלֹהִים בְּלִבּוֹ וּמַצְפּוּנוֹ בֵּין שֶׁיֻּגְמַר לוֹ חֶפְצוֹ בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא יֻגְמַר לוֹ חֶפְצוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהלים קכח ב) יְגִיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ כִּי תֹאכֵל אַשְׁרֶיךָ וְטוֹב לָךְ, וְאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (משנה אבות ב יב) וְכָל מַעֲשֶׂיךָ יִהְיוּ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם.

He will be rewarded for his intentions in heart and mind to serve G-d whether or not his desire is accomplished, as written "If you eat from the toil of your hands, you are praiseworthy, and it is good for you" (Tehilim 128:2), and our sages of blessed memory said "Let all your actions be for the sake of Heaven (to serve G-d)" (Avot 2:12).

וְיִהְיֶה בִּטְחוֹנוֹ בֵּאלֹהִים שָׁלֵם וְלֹא יַזִּיקֶנּוּ הַסִּבּוּב עַל הַסִּבּוֹת לַהֲבָאַת טַרְפּוֹ בָּהֶם מְאוּמָה כְּשֶׁהוּא מְכַוֵּן בָּהֶם בְּלִבּוֹ וּמַצְפּוּנוֹ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם.

In this way, his trust in G-d will be intact, undamaged by the toiling in the means to earn a livelihood, as long as his intention in heart and mind is for the sake of Heaven (to do the will of G-d that the world be populated and built up).

וְאַל יַחְשֹׁב כִּי טַרְפּוֹ מָעֳמָד עַל סִבָּה יְדוּעָה וְשֶׁאִם תִּמָּנַע הַסִּבָּה הַהִיא מִמֶּנּוּ לֹא יָבֹא בְּסִבָּה אַחֶרֶת אֲבָל יִבְטַח עַל הָאֱלֹהִים בְּטַרְפּוֹ וְיֵדַע כִּי הַסִּבּוֹת כֻּלָּן אֵצֶל הַבּוֹרֵא שָׁווֹת יַטְרִיפֵהוּ בַּמֶּה שֶׁיִּרְצֶה מֵהֶן וּבְעֵת שֶׁיִּרְצֶה מֵאֵיזֶה עִנְיָן שֶׁיִּרְצֶה כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (שמואל א יד ו) כִּי אֵין לַה׳ מַעְצוֹר לְהוֹשִׁיעַ בְּרַב אוֹ בִמְעָט, וְאָמַר (דברים ח יח) כִּי הוּא הַנֹּתֵן לְךָ כֹּחַ לַעֲשׂוֹת חָיִל, וְאָמַר (זכריה ד ו) לֹא בְחַיִל וְלֹא בְכֹחַ כִּי אִם בְּרוּחִי אָמַר ה׳ צְבָאוֹת.

One should not think that his livelihood depends on a particular means and that if these means fail, his livelihood will not come from a different means. Rather, trust in the Al-mighty, and know that all means are equal for Him. He can provide using whatever means and at any time and however He so wishes, as written "for with the L-ord there is no limitation to save with many or with few" (Shmuel I 14:6), and "But you must remember the L-ord your G-d, for it is He that gives you strength to make wealth, in order to establish His covenant which He swore to your forefathers, as it is this day." (Devarim 8:18), and "Not by might nor by power, but by My spirit, says the L-ord of Hosts." (Zecharia 4:6).

אֹהֵ֥ב כֶּ֙סֶף֙ לֹא־יִשְׂבַּ֣ע כֶּ֔סֶף וּמִֽי־אֹהֵ֥ב בֶּהָמ֖וֹן לֹ֣א תְבוּאָ֑ה גַּם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase; this also is vanity.

בִּרְבוֹת֙ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה רַבּ֖וּ אוֹכְלֶ֑יהָ וּמַה־כִּשְׁרוֹן֙ לִבְעָלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֖י אִם־[רְא֥וּת] (ראית) עֵינָֽיו׃

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, saving the beholding of them with his eyes?

מְתוּקָה֙ שְׁנַ֣ת הָעֹבֵ֔ד אִם־מְעַ֥ט וְאִם־הַרְבֵּ֖ה יֹאכֵ֑ל וְהַשָּׂבָע֙ לֶֽעָשִׁ֔יר אֵינֶ֛נּוּ מַנִּ֥יחַֽ ל֖וֹ לִישֽׁוֹן׃

Sweet is the sleep of a labouring man, whether he eat little or much; but the satiety of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

טוֹב־מְ֭עַט בְּיִרְאַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה מֵאוֹצָ֥ר רָ֝֗ב וּמְה֥וּמָה בֽוֹ׃

Better is little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure and turmoil therewith.

ט֤וֹב אֲרֻחַ֣ת יָ֭רָק וְאַהֲבָה־שָׁ֑ם מִשּׁ֥וֹר אָ֝ב֗וּס וְשִׂנְאָה־בֽוֹ׃

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

אַל־תִּיגַ֥ע לְֽהַעֲשִׁ֑יר מִֽבִּינָתְךָ֥ חֲדָֽל׃

Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom. .

(התעוף) [הֲתָ֤עִיף]־עֵינֶ֥יךָ בּ֗וֹ וְֽאֵ֫ינֶ֥נּוּ כִּ֤י עָשֹׂ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה־לּ֣וֹ כְנָפַ֑יִם כְּ֝נֶ֗שֶׁר (ועיף) [יָע֥וּף] הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon it? it is gone; For riches certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.