Mishlei 15-21
Self-Control
Key Concepts
A person with self-control has trained his heart to be guided by his intelligence. He is then referred to as a chacham lev (wise of heart). Without this guidance, the person is free to follow the passions of the moment. He is then said to be a fool with a deficient heart (chasar lev).
The chacham lev is also referred to as a discerning person (ish tevunah) because he has a deep understanding of the middos (behavioral tendencies) that need to be kept under control. The standards that he follows are defined by the straight path (yashrus or fair-mindedness)
One way of comparing the discerning person (אִישׁ תְּבוּנָה) with the fool is by seeing what gives them pleasure. The fool finds joy in foolish behavior (אִוֶּלֶת). Since he doesn’t think things through he is not worried about the consequences. He enjoys the foolishness while it is happening even if it is unethical or immoral.
In contrast the discerning person is concerned at all times about maintaining his standards of yashrus. He find joy in the knowledge that he has himself under control so that he will always be doing the right thing in every situation.
Exploring Mishlei
כא = אִוֶּלֶת שִׂמְחָה לַחֲסַר־לֵב וְאִישׁ תְּבוּנָה יְיַשֶּׁר־לָכֶת
Foolish behavior brings joy to the man of deficient heart for he lacks self-control and is not concerned about the consequences. But a discerning man avoids foolish behavior. Instead, he finds joy in walking the path of straightness for he has mastered self-control.
Learning Mishlei
(21) Foolishness gives joy — אִוֶּלֶת שִׂמְחָה
to the man of deficient heart — לַחֲסַר־לֵב,
for such a man lacks self-restraint.
But the joy of a discerning man — וְאִישׁ תְּבוּנָה
who thinks things through,
is in walking a straight path — יְיַשֶּׁר־לָכֶת
in full control of his middos.
Additional Insights
(1) If a discerning person does something foolish, he regrets it, but the fool who lacks understanding rejoices in his foolishness. (הגר”א)
(2) The man of discernment rejoices when he finds the proper way to go that is consistent with the path of yashrus. (הגר”א)
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