## Sifrei Devarim Paragraph 277

###### Sifrei Devarim 277:1
[Sifrei Devarim 277:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/277:1)

(דברים כד יב) **וְאִם אִישׁ עָנִי הוּא**, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא עָנִי, עָשִׁיר מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **וְאִם אִישׁ**, אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר **עָנִי**? מְמַהֵר אֲנִי לִפָּרַע עַל יְדֵי עָנִי יוֹתֵר מִן הֶעָשִׁיר.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**Pisqa’ 277**³⁸³
1. “Now, if he is a *poor* man” (Dt. 24:12).
I might infer only that
this rule applies to a *poor* man.
How do I know that
it applies [as well to] a wealthy man?
The Teaching states:
“Now, if he is . . *. a man*” (Dt. 24:12)—
[the rule, therefore, applies too all men equally].
Well, if so, why is it stated:
“A *poor* man” (Dt. 24:12)?
**[For it is as if the Holy One were to say:]**
**“I will rush to exact retribution**
**on behalf of the impoverished,**
**before attending to the cause of the wealthy!”**³⁸⁴ 278.2 and 279.2.

footnotes:
³⁸³ H:269-270;JN2:222-223.
³⁸⁴ Cf. Pisqa’ot


###### Sifrei Devarim 277:2
[Sifrei Devarim 277:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/277:2)

**לֹא תִשְׁכַּב בַּעֲבֹטוֹ**, וְכִי תַעֲלֶה עַל דַּעְתְּךָ שֶׁיִּשְׁכַּב בַּעֲבוֹטוֹ? אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא תִשְׁכַּב וַעֲבוֹטוֹ אֶצְלְךָ.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
2. “You may not *recline upon*³⁸⁵ literally, “to lie down.” Here the midrashist focuses on a broader reading (*tishkav;* “remain overnight”), which surely seems to be intended by the verse-text as well. his article” (Dt. 24:12).
Can you possibly imagine that
he would recline upon his [debtor’s] pledge?
Actually, [the point is that]
you shouldn’t retire [for the night]
while his pledge is in your possession!

footnotes:
³⁸⁵ Heb: tishkav;


###### Sifrei Devarim 277:3
[Sifrei Devarim 277:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/277:3)

(דברים כד יג) **הָשֵׁב תָּשִׁיב לוֹ אֶת הָעֲבוֹט**, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁמַּחֲזִיר לוֹ כְּלִי יוֹם בַּיּוֹם וּכְלִי לַיְלָה בַּלַּיְלָה, סָגוֹס בַּלַּיְלָה וּמַחְרֵשָׁה בַּיּוֹם אֲבָל לֹא סָגוֹס בַּיּוֹם וּמַחְרֵשָׁה בַּלַּיְלָה.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“Make *every effort* to return the pledged article to him” (Dt. 24:13)—
this teaches that
you return an object used by day
at [the beginning of] the day,
and an object used by night,
at [the beginning of] the night.
[For example:]
a blanket at nightfall, and a plow at day-break;
but not a blanket at day-break, and a plow at nightfall!


###### Sifrei Devarim 277:4
[Sifrei Devarim 277:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/277:4)

**וְשָׁכַב בְּשַׂלְמָתוֹ וּבֵרְכֶךָּ**, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהוּא מְצֻוֶּה לְבָרֶכְךָ. יָכוֹל אִם בֵּרַכְךָ אַתָּה מְבֹרָךְ וְאִם לָאו אִי אַתָּה מְבֹרָךְ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **וּלְךָ תִהְיֶה צְדָקָה**, מֵעַצְמְךָ אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה צְדָקָה.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
3. “So that he might retire in his night-shirt and *bless you*” (Dt. 24:13)—
this teaches that he *must* bless you.
Is it possible to say that
if he blesses you, you *are* truly blessed,
but if not, you are *not* truly blessed?
The Teaching states:
“And it will be credited to you *as a righteous act*” (Dt. 24:13)—
out of *your* very *act*, you create righteousness.


###### Sifrei Devarim 277:5
[Sifrei Devarim 277:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/277:5)

**וּלְךָ תִּהְיֶה צְדָקָה**, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַצְּדָקָה עוֹלָה לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (תהלים פה יד): ״צֶדֶק לְפָנָיו יְהַלֵּךְ וְיָשֵׂם לְדֶרֶךְ פְּעָמָיו״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“And it will be *credited to you* as a righteous act” (Dt. 24:13)—
this teaches that
righteousness ascends
before the Throne of Glory.
And, therefore, it is said:
“Righteousness proceeds from Him,
and directs His steps on the way” (Ps. 85:14)—
[even if the poor give no blessing,
the Holy One notices and ascribes merit].