It states in Proverbs,²¹⁵ “All the days of the poor are bad.” This may be understood in accordance with what our sages, of blessed memory, stated,²¹⁶ “There is no one poorer than a person who lacks knowledge of HaShem-Da’at.”²¹⁷. We may therefore understand the verse in Proverbs to mean, “All the days of a person who is poor in the knowledge of HaShem-Da’at are bad.” That is, *HaShem,*blessed is He, takes no notice of his prayer and Torah study, for certainly they lack love of HaShem and fear of HaShem, and thus do not ascend to HaShem above.²¹⁸

footnotes: ²¹⁵ Proverbs 15:15 ²¹⁶ Talmud Bavli, Nedarim 41a ²¹⁷ Which as previously mentioned in section 98 is a term of adhesion and bonding, Dveikut ²¹⁸ Tikkunei Zohar 10:25b

The Talmud, however, questions this, stating,²¹⁹ “But aren’t there days such as Shabbat and Holidays, when even the poor eat well?” That is, certainly on those days every person is roused from Above and surely prays with greater devotion. However, the Talmud responds, “A change in one’s eating habits is the start of intestinal disease.” In other words, even though on such days he prays with greater devotion, he is aware of his greater devotion, which brings him to pride and self-aggrandizement. This is because he perceives himself as having now ascended to a high supernal level. Therefore, even now, “his days are bad,” since, “a change in one’s eating habits is the start of intestinal disease.” In other words,²²⁰ “The evil inclination only incites on account of eating and drinking,” and it is through this that he comes to be prideful. This will suffice for the understanding.

footnotes: ²¹⁹ Talmud Bavli, Ketubot 110b ²²⁰ Zohar Vol. 1, 110a