Rabbi Tanḥuma began: “There is gold, and an abundance of gems, but lips of knowledge are a precious vessel” (Proverbs 20:15) – the way of the world is that a person who has gold, silver, jewels, gems, and all the objects of desire in the world, but he does not have goodness and wisdom, what acquisition does he have? The parable says: If you acquired knowledge what do you lack; if you lack knowledge, what have you acquired?
“There is gold” – everyone brought his gift of gold to the Tabernacle. That is what is written: “This is the gift [you shall take from them: gold]” (Exodus 25:3). “An abundance of gems” – this is the gift of the princes, as it is stated: “The princes brought [the onyx stones and the stones for setting for the ephod and for the breast piece]” (Exodus 35:27). “But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel” – Moses’s soul was despondent, and he said: Everyone brought his gift offering for the Tabernacle, but I did not bring; so the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘As you live, your speech is dearer to me than all of it,’ as from all of them, the divine speech called only to Moses: “He called to Moses.”