Another matter, “if…will become poor” – that is what is written: “The man of kindness does good for himself” (Proverbs 11:17), this is Hillel the elder, who, when he would take leave from his disciples, would walk with them. His disciples said to him: ‘Our teacher, where are you going?’ He said to them: ‘To perform a mitzva.’ They said to him: ‘What mitzva is this?’
He said to them: ‘To bathe in the bathhouse.’ They said to him: ‘Is that a mitzva?’ He said to them: ‘Yes. If the statues of kings that are placed in theaters and circuses, the one who is appointed over them scrubs them and washes them, and they provide him with sustenance, and moreover, he is exalted among the prominent leaders of the kingdom; I who was created in the likeness and image [of God], as it is written: “For in the image of God, He made man” (Genesis 9:6), all the more so.’
Another matter, “The man of kindness does good for himself,” this is Hillel the elder, who, when he would take leave from his disciples, would walk with them. His disciples said to him: ‘Our teacher, where are you going?’ He said to them: ‘To perform an act of kindness with the guest inside the house.’ They said to him: ‘Every day you have a guest?’
He said to them: ‘And is this wretched soul not a guest inside the body; one day it is here, the next day it is not here.’ Another matter, “The man of kindness does good for himself, and one who abuses his flesh is cruel” (Proverbs 11:17). Rabbi Alexandri said: This is one who has a reason to celebrate, but he does not invite his relatives to be with him due to poverty. Rabbi Naḥman said: It is written: “For it is due to [biglal] this matter” (Deuteronomy 15:10), it is a cycle [galgal] that recurs in the world.5People or families who have means now, eventually become needy, and vice versa. Therefore, Moses cautions them: “If your brother will become poor.”