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If you withstood a great test still do not be confident of yourself until the day of death,1Aboth 2:5. to say, “Since I did not sin in this great matter, I will no longer sin.” Because the evil inclination today is not the same as yesterday, therefore perhaps in the very same matter (test) tomorrow you will be unable to endure. Behold David did not sin with Abigail2Megillah 14b. but he sinned with Bathsheba, David did not sin with his pursuers who sought to kill him3Berakoth 62b. and did not raise his hand upon the annointed of God and did not give permission to Avishai to strike him,4He allowed no one to strike Saul. but in the end he did sin with Uriah, who sought his (David’s) wellbeing.5Shabbath 56a. But if you say, “I can believe in myself since I was rescued from a great transgression,” then you hold yourself more righteous than those on high. Not only that, but you regard yourself and your wisdom superior to Him who created you, for it is said, “Behold, He putteth no trust in His holy ones” (Job 15:15), “And His angels He chargeth with folly” (Job 4:18). If the Holy One, blessed be He, who knows what the future will be, does not trust His angels and His holy ones, you, with your thoughts changing from good to evil all the more that you should not be confident in yourself, and thus it is said, “Happy is the man that feareth always” (Prov. 28:14) that he not sin. “Lamed,” signifies “Your heart, fill it with understanding,”6The lamed is used as an acrostic. The “l,” “m” and “d” serve as the first letters for each of the three words that comprise the passage. to know the fear of the Lord, and it is written, “ Teach me good discernment and knowledge … teach me Thy statutes” (Ps. 119:66-68).