Ecclesiastes Rabbah 12:14

¹“For every action God will bring to judgment, for every unknown, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). “For every action” – Rabbi would interpret these verses, and when he would arrive at one of these six verses, he would weep. These are they: “For behold the Former of mountains, [and Creator of wind, who tells man what is his conversation]” (Amos 4:13). Even matters that do not have substance or sin are written for Him in His ledger. Who writes them? “He who renders dawn, darkness…[the Lord, God of hosts, is His name]” (Amos 4:13). In addition: “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, [who have performed His judgment; seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you shall be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger]” (Zephaniah 2:3). [In addition:] “Hate evil, and love good, [and display justice at the gate; perhaps the Lord, God of hosts, will grant favor to the remnant of Joseph]” (Amos 5:15). And this verse: “For every action God [will bring to judgment, for every unknown, whether good or evil].” “Without knowledge, even the soul is no good” (Proverbs 19:2) – Rabbi Beivai said: [This is likened] to one who was accustomed to engage in relations [with his wife] at sunrise. He forgot 63b). and engaged in relations before sunrise. If he did so without knowledge, it is not good, and all the more so if he did so with knowledge. Furthermore, “he who hastens with his feet sins” (Proverbs 19:2). ). [This is likened] to one who had two stores before him, one selling slaughtered meat and one selling meat from an unslaughtered carcass, and he forgot and purchased the meat of the unslaughtered carcass. “Without knowledge…no good” (Proverbs 19:2), and all the more so if he did so with knowledge. Furthermore, “he who hastens with his feet sins” (Proverbs 19:2). Rabbi Yoḥanan interpreted the verse regarding Shabbat. [This is likened] to one who had two paths before him, one smooth and one filled with thorns and pebbles, and he forgot and went on the one in which there were thorns and pebbles. Had he known and gone, all the more so. Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish interpreted this verse. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: With vow offerings and gift offerings it is prohibited; with sin offerings and guilt offerings it is permitted. Reish Lakish said: With vow offerings and gift offerings it is permitted; with sin offerings and guilt offerings it is prohibited. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: If one performs one transgression without knowledge it is not good; if he knew and went and performed [the transgression], all the more so. Therefore, “for every action God will bring to judgment, for every unknown, whether good or evil.” He said: A servant whose master considers his unwitting transgressions like intentional transgressions, does he have recourse? What is “for every unknown”? That is one who kills a louse in the presence of another person and [the other person] is disgusted. Shmuel said: This is one who expectorates before another person and [the other person] is disgusted. What is “whether good or evil”? The school of Rabbi Yannai says: This is one who gives a coin to a poor person in public, as when Rabbi Yannai saw a man who gave a coin to a poor person in public, he said: It would have been preferable had you not given to him, than now, when you gave to him and shamed him. The school of Rabbi Shila says: This is one who gives charity to a woman in private, as he causes her to become suspected. Rava said; This is one who sends uncut meat to his wife on Friday. Is this so? But did Rava not send [in this manner]? The daughter of Rav Ḥisda was different, as he knew that she [would successfully remove all the prohibited portions].