I will praise the Lord with all my heart. I speak about the inclination to do good and the inclination to do evil, so that a wickedness will not nest in my heart. This is what the scripture says (Ecclesiastes 4:13) "Better a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning". And why is he called a youth?
Because it refers to creating goodness. And why is he called poor? Because no nation listens to him. And why is he called wise?
Because he is united with the Holy One, blessed be He, for thirteen years prior. (ibid) "An old king who no longer knows how to heed a warning" - this is the evil inclination. And why is he called a king? Because all limbs listen to him. And why is he called old?
Because he is connected to a man from his youth to his old age. This is what is written (Genesis 8:21) "For the inclination of man's heart is evil from his youth". From his youth, from his mother's womb. And why is he called a fool?
Because he intends to create wickedness in his heart. (Ecclesiastes 4:13) "For he came out of prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom" - in his kingdom, this refers to the inclination to do evil. In his kingdom, the inclination to do good is born. I will recount all Your wonders, they are amazing - some belong to the past, some to this world, and some to the world to come.