Midrash
Kohelet Rabbah 8:16 קהלת רבה ח׳:ט״ז
Part of: Chapter 8
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כַּאֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי אֶת לִבִּי וגו' שֵׁנָה בְּעֵינָיו אֵינֶנּוּ רֹאֶה, אֵינוֹ רוֹאֶה תְּשׁוּבָה וְאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה, שְׁנֵי דְבָרִים טוֹבִים קְרוֹבִים לְךָ וּרְחוֹקִים מִמְּךָ, רְחוֹקִים מִמְךָ וּקְרוֹבִים לְךָ. תְּשׁוּבָה קְרוֹבָה לְךָ וּרְחוֹקָה מִמְּךָ, רְחוֹקָה מִמְּךָ וּקְרוֹבָה לְךָ, מִיתָה קְרוֹבָה לְךָ וּרְחוֹקָה מִמְּךָ, רְחוֹקָה מִמְךָ וּקְרוֹבָה לְךָ.
“When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the matters that are performed on the earth, as both during the day and during the night, one does not see sleep in his eyes” (Ecclesiastes 8:16).
“When I applied my heart…one does not see sleep41Sleep [shena] is expounded to mean that he does not see change [shinui] in his eyes. in his eyes.” One does not see repentance,42One does not see the need for repentance, or possibly, the opportunity for repentance. and does not perform it. There are two good matters that are close to you and distant from you, distant from you and close to you. Repentance is close to you and distant from you,43If you believe that repentance is easily accessible, it will be distant from you. distant from you and close to you.44If you acknowledge how difficult it is, your repentance will be effective. Death is close to you and distant from you, distant from you and close to you.45Awareness that death may be imminent will lead to repentance and postponing death.
“When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the matters that are performed on the earth, as both during the day and during the night, one does not see sleep in his eyes” (Ecclesiastes 8:16).
“When I applied my heart…one does not see sleep41Sleep [shena] is expounded to mean that he does not see change [shinui] in his eyes. in his eyes.” One does not see repentance,42One does not see the need for repentance, or possibly, the opportunity for repentance. and does not perform it. There are two good matters that are close to you and distant from you, distant from you and close to you. Repentance is close to you and distant from you,43If you believe that repentance is easily accessible, it will be distant from you. distant from you and close to you.44If you acknowledge how difficult it is, your repentance will be effective. Death is close to you and distant from you, distant from you and close to you.45Awareness that death may be imminent will lead to repentance and postponing death.