<b>And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased (Exod. 9:34).</b> Such is the way of the wicked: whenever they are in trouble, they humiliate themselves, but once their troubles have ceased, they become corrupt again. When Nebuchadnezzar was in trouble, he said: <i>Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and honor and extol the King of heaven, for all His works are truth, and His way is justice; and those that walk in pride, He is able to abase</i> (Dan. 4:34).
R. Berechiah stated in the name of R. Helbo, who had said in the name of R. Samuel the son of Nahman: Most assuredly, the Holy One, blessed be He, judges the thoughts and the heart of man. Nebuchadnezzar praised Him in this verse just as David did in the Book of Psalms. Nebuchadnezzar said <i>praise</i>, and David said <i>Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem</i> (Ps. 147:12); Nebuchadnezzar said <i>extol</i>, and David said: <i>I will extol thee, O Lord, for Thou hast raised me up</i> (Ps. 30:2); Nebuchadnezzar said <i>honor</i>, and David declared: <i>Thou art clothed with honor and majesty</i> (ibid. 104:1). After he achieved greatness, however, he became arrogant, as it is said: <i>Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for a royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?</i> (Dan. 4:27). Whereupon the Holy One, blessed be He, rebuked him: Wretch! Again you are boastful, as it is said: <i>While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven: “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee”</i> (ibid., v. 28). Hence, whenever the wicked are in trouble, they humble themselves, but when their difficulties cease, they revert to their corrupt practices. Pharaoh did likewise. <i>When he saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he continued to sin</i> (Exod. 9:34). The gentiles add to their sins, but in the case of Israel <i>The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion, he will no more carry thee away into captivity; He will punish thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he will uncover thy sins</i> (Lam. 4:22).