The Wicked Who Borrow and Do Not Repay and Israel Who Blesses

"The wicked borrows and does not repay" (Psalms 37:21). Rabbi Yitzhak said: three are called wicked, and these are they: one who raises his hand against his fellow, one who borrows and does not repay, and one who is a man of strife. One who raises his hand against his fellow -- from where? "And he said to the wicked one, Why do you strike your fellow?" (Exodus 2:13). Rabbi Ze'ora said: not only when he struck him, but even if he merely raised his hand to strike him and did not strike him, he is called wicked, for it is written, "And he said to the wicked one, Why do you strike your fellow?" -- it does not say "why did you strike," but "why do you strike": you intend to strike him, and you have not yet struck. Rabbi Samuel bar Tanhum said in the presence of Rabbi Tanhuma, and he said: even when one is brazen-faced he is called wicked, as it is said, "A wicked man hardens his face" (Proverbs 21:29). One who borrows and does not repay -- from where? "The wicked borrows and does not repay" (Psalms 37:21). And one who is a man of strife -- from where? From the company of Korah: "Turn away from the tents of these wicked men" (Numbers 16:26). Rav Judah, when he made a person swear an oath, would recite over him "Turn away from the tents of these wicked men" (ibid.). Another interpretation: "The wicked borrows and does not repay" (Psalms 37:21) -- these are the nations of the world, who eat and drink and do not bless. "But the righteous is gracious and gives" (ibid.) -- these are Israel, who eat and bless. Resh Lakish said: you find that when the Holy One gives the righteous one what he asks of Him, he turns back and graciously gives from what is His. This is what is written, "But the righteous is gracious and gives" (ibid.) -- the Righteous One of the world is gracious, and Israel gives. Rabbi Levi said: thus it arose in the mind of the Holy One to give Israel one festival in every month of the warm season: in Nisan, Passover; in Iyar, the Second Passover; in Sivan, the Festival of Weeks. But on account of the transgressions and evil deeds that were in their hands, He took three away from them: Tammuz, Av, and Elul. Tishrei came and He repaid all three: "the beginning of the cup" [the fast of the Ninth of Av] corresponding to Tammuz, the great fast [the Day of Atonement] corresponding to Av, the seven days of the festival corresponding to Elul. The Holy One said: He repays others and His own He does not repay? Give Him His own, and let Him come and take His own. Therefore Scripture had to say, "On the eighth day shall be a solemn assembly" (Numbers 29:35).