(Devarim 24:12) "And if he is a poor man, you shall not lie down with his pledge." This tells me only of a poor man. Whence do I derive (the same for) a rich man? From "And if a man" (— any man). If so, why is it written "poor"? I hasten to exact payment for (such abuse of) a poor man more than for that of a rich man.
(Ibid. 13) "Return shall you return to him the pledge when the sun sets": And elsewhere (Shemoth 22:25) "until the sun sets (in the daytime) shall you return it to him." We are hereby taught that he returns to him what is used during the day in the daytime, and what is used at night, in the evening — a mattress in the evening and a plow in the daytime, and not the reverse.
"and he shall bless you": We are hereby taught that he is commanded to bless you. I might think that if he blessed you, you will be blessed; and if not, not. It is, therefore, written "and for you it will be righteousness before the L-rd your G-d."
We are hereby taught that righteousness ascends before the throne of glory, as it is written (Psalms 85:14) "His righteousness shall go before Him and shall set his steps on the path."
(דברים כד יב) וְאִם אִישׁ עָנִי הוּא, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא עָנִי, עָשִׁיר מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְאִם אִישׁ, אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר עָנִי? מְמַהֵר אֲנִי לִפָּרַע עַל יְדֵי עָנִי יוֹתֵר מִן הֶעָשִׁיר.
(Devarim 24:12) "And if he is a poor man, you shall not lie down with his pledge." This tells me only of a poor man. Whence do I derive (the same for) a rich man? From "And if a man" (— any man). If so, why is it written "poor"? I hasten to exact payment for (such abuse of) a poor man more than for that of a rich man.
לֹא תִשְׁכַּב בַּעֲבֹטוֹ, וְכִי תַעֲלֶה עַל דַּעְתְּךָ שֶׁיִּשְׁכַּב בַּעֲבוֹטוֹ? אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא תִשְׁכַּב וַעֲבוֹטוֹ אֶצְלְךָ.
"you shall not lie down with his pledge": You shall not lie down with his pledge in your possession.
(דברים כד יג) הָשֵׁב תָּשִׁיב לוֹ אֶת הָעֲבוֹט, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁמַּחֲזִיר לוֹ כְּלִי יוֹם בַּיּוֹם וּכְלִי לַיְלָה בַּלַּיְלָה, סָגוֹס בַּלַּיְלָה וּמַחְרֵשָׁה בַּיּוֹם אֲבָל לֹא סָגוֹס בַּיּוֹם וּמַחְרֵשָׁה בַּלַּיְלָה.
(Ibid. 13) "Return shall you return to him the pledge when the sun sets": And elsewhere (Shemoth 22:25) "until the sun sets (in the daytime) shall you return it to him." We are hereby taught that he returns to him what is used during the day in the daytime, and what is used at night, in the evening — a mattress in the evening and a plow in the daytime, and not the reverse.
וְשָׁכַב בְּשַׂלְמָתוֹ וּבֵרְכֶךָּ, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהוּא מְצֻוֶּה לְבָרֶכְךָ. יָכוֹל אִם בֵּרַכְךָ אַתָּה מְבֹרָךְ וְאִם לָאו אִי אַתָּה מְבֹרָךְ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וּלְךָ תִהְיֶה צְדָקָה, מֵעַצְמְךָ אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה צְדָקָה.
"and he shall bless you": We are hereby taught that he is commanded to bless you. I might think that if he blessed you, you will be blessed; and if not, not. It is, therefore, written "and for you it will be righteousness before the L-rd your G-d."
וּלְךָ תִּהְיֶה צְדָקָה, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַצְּדָקָה עוֹלָה לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (תהלים פה יד): ״צֶדֶק לְפָנָיו יְהַלֵּךְ וְיָשֵׂם לְדֶרֶךְ פְּעָמָיו״.
We are hereby taught that righteousness ascends before the throne of glory, as it is written (Psalms 85:14) "His righteousness shall go before Him and shall set his steps on the path."