Do Not Despise The Thief Who Steals To Fill His Hunger

(Proverbs 6:30): "Men do not despise a thief if he steals" — if you have seen an unlearned person (am ha'aretz) who has worn himself out [exerted himself to ruin] over words of Torah, do not despise him, and do not say to him, "Yesterday an unlearned man and today a scholar (chaver)?!" Why? "To fill his soul when he is hungry" (Proverbs 6:30) — there is no hunger but Torah, as it is said (Amos 8:11): "Not a hunger for bread, nor a thirst for water, but to hear the words of the LORD." Another interpretation of "Men do not despise a thief, etc." — if you have seen a wicked thief who has turned from his wickedness and done repentance, do not despise him. Why? "To fill his soul when he is hungry." What is written after it? (Proverbs 6:31): "And if he is found he shall repay sevenfold" — this is the unlearned person who learned Torah and returned to his former corruption; the Holy One, blessed be He, completes [his punishment] in the fourteen compartments of Gehinnom. And it is not enough that he brings it upon himself, but upon himself and his household and his wealth, as it is said, "he shall give all the substance of his house." Another interpretation of "And if he is found he shall repay sevenfold" — this is the judge who was appointed over the public: if he does not judge truthfully and does not render the verdict according to its truth, the Holy One, blessed be He, completes [his punishment] in the fourteen compartments of Gehinnom. And it is not enough that he brings it upon himself, but upon himself and his household and his wealth, as it is said, "he shall give all the substance of his house."