Ministers
Sefer Hamidos - The Book of Traits · 5 individual teachings
מִי שֶׁסָּבְאוֹ מָהוּל בְּמַיִם, הַשָּׂרִים אֵינָם נוֹהֲגִים עִמּוֹ בְּיַשְׁרָנוּת.
1. One who's wine is diluted with water (t.n. this is most probably referring to wine for sale, see theft #10), the officials do not deal with him in a straight manner.
מִי שֶׁאֵין דָּן אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ לְכַף־זְכוּת, כְּאִלּוּ הֲרָגוֹ, גַּם הַשָּׂרִים אֵינָם נוֹהֲגִים עִמּוֹ בְּיַשְׁרָנוּת.
2. One who does not judge his fellow favorably is as if he killed him. Also the officials do not deal with him in a straight manner.
אֲמִירַת הַלֵּל וּצְדָקָה מְסֻגָּלִין לְחֵן בְּעֵינֵי הַשָּׂר.
3. Saying of Hallel and giving charity are a segulah (conducive) to [having] favor in the eyes of the minister.
עַל־יְדֵי אֲכִילַת פַּת עַכּוּ"ם מוֹנְעִין הַיַּעַר מִלַּחְטֹב עֵצִים.
4. Through eating bread baked by a non-Jew, the forest is prohibited from cutting down its trees.
בִּשְׁבִיל אַרְבָּעָה דְּבָרִים נִכְסֵי בַּעֲלֵי־בָּתִּים נִמְסָרִים לַמַּלְכוּת.
5. Due to four things, the property of householders is handed over to the government (monarchy). [1) Keeping a note of debt after it has been paid off; 2) Charging interest; 3) Remaining silent in a case where one should speak out against evil; and 4) Promising to make a donation in public and not carrying through.]
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