Rashi on TanakhProverbs 21

Man’s every way is straight in his own eyes, but the Lord counts Heb. ותכן.

Haughty eyes A haughty spirit.

and unlimited lust The desire to satisfy the lusts of his heart; that is the tillage of the wicked. Their “plowing” and their thoughts is their sin.

The plans of a diligent man Heb. חרוץ, an honest man who walks in truth and according to the established judgment.

lead only to advantage They come to prosperity and profit.

whereas every hasty one One who forces the time.

Gathering treasures to increase wealth.

with a lying tongue is like a driven vapor, etc. They are snares of death (seekers of death) for him.

The plunder of the wicked frightens them Heb. יגורם, [like] יגור אותם.

A man’s way is changeable and he is strange A man who is strange, turning away from the commandment—his way is changeable.

and the house of a friend That he enters his friend’s house to converse with his wife. And the Midrash Aggadah states: He prophesied that the Shechinah would ultimately leave Israel, who is like a quarrelsome wife.

and the house of a friend A house in which they associate friends with the Holy One, blessed be He; for example, the image that Manasseh erected in the Temple of the Lord.

When a scorner is punished, a fool gains wisdom Through the chastisements of scorners, fools gain wisdom and return [to God] in repentance.

The Righteous One considers The Righteous One of the world sets His heart to destroy the house of the wicked, e.g. the remembrance of Amalek.

A gift in secret Charity.

and a bribe in the pocket This too refers to charity. It will appease even strong wrath.

It is a joy for a righteous man to do judgment It is a joy for the Holy One, blessed be He, to inflict judgment upon the righteous in order to bestow upon them the life of the world to come, for the Holy One, blessed be He, brings pains upon them in order that they merit the world to come. In this manner, it is expounded in Midrash Psalms (3:1).

and a ruin It is [a ruin] for those who commit violence Because they do not put their hearts to repent and the pains do not avail them, but they suffer to no avail.

A man who strays from the way of understanding From the Torah.

in the congregation of the shades in the congregation of Gehinnom.

shall be a poor man He who loves the joy of always banqueting.

A wicked man shall be ransom for a righteous man, and a treacherous one instead of the upright A righteous man is rescued, and a wicked man comes in his stead (above 11:8), such as Mordecai and Haman.

It is better to dwell in a desert land This too was stated regarding the withdrawal of the Shechinah.

but man’s foolishness Heb. וכסיל אדם foolishness of a man.

A wise man ascended to a city of mighty men This refers to Moses, our teacher, who went up among the angels, who are mighty in strength. (and brought down, etc. The Torah.)

haughty Heb. יהיר, one who is haughty; he will ultimately become a scorner, for he does not care to hear reproof.

but the righteous gives all the necessities of his house, for the Holy One, blessed be He, prepares them for him.

how much more if he brings it with plans of wickedness! How much more if he brings it to be wicked and with evil counsel, such as the sacrifices of Balaam and Balak, who brought them only to curse Israel.

but an obedient man who obeys what is written in the Torah: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

forever Always.

A wicked man shows his brazenness in his anger A wicked man shows his brazenness at the time of his anger.

in his anger Heb. בפניו, an expression of anger.

There is neither wisdom, etc. No wise or understanding man is of any importance against the Lord. Wherever there is a desecration of the Name, we do not pay regard to a teacher.