SHABBAT: YESHIVAT HAVERIM – BABYLONIAN TALMUD p55

There is another Boraitha: R. Nathan says: For the sin of vows one’s wife dies, as it is written
[Proverbs, xxii. 27]: . . . why should he take away thy bed from under thee?” 1
Another Boraitha states: R. Nehemiah said: The penalty for the sin of hating without cause is
strife at home, the wife (of the sinner) gives birth before her time, his sons and daughters die
young.
R. Elazar b. Jehudah says: The penalty for the sin of neglecting the first dough is: no blessing in
the harvest, high prices (for necessities), the consumption of the seed by strangers; but if this
portion is given, blessings will surely follow, as it is written: “The first of your dough shall you
give to the priest, to cause a blessing to rest on thy house” [Ez. xliv. 30]. The penalty for the sin
of neglecting heave-offerings and tithes is: the sky withholds rain and dew; dearth comes on,
there are no profits, and men run about to earn a livelihood, but they do not succeed. But if these
offerings are given, blessings will come, as it is written: “Bring ye all the tithes into the
storehouse, etc., and prove me but herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open for you
the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until there be more than enough” [Mal.
iii. 10]. The penalty for the sin of robbery is: locust pestilence, famine comes, and the people
feed on the flesh of their children, as it is written [Amos, iv. 1-7, q. v.] For the sins of curbing,
perverting, and polluting justice, and of neglecting the law, the sword comes on, (enemies take)
much spoil, the people eat and are never satisfied, and they must weigh the bread they eat (i.e.,
eat in small portions, for fear that nothing be left for the next meal), as it is written [Leviticus,
xxvi. 25]: “Avenging the quarrel of my covenant,” and covenant is synonymous with the Law,
as it is written [Jeremiah, xxxiii. 25]: “Thus hath said the Lord,” etc. For the sins of unnecessary
and false swearing, perjury, blasphemy, and desecration of the Sabbath, many wild beasts come
and domestic cattle are destroyed, the population decreases, and the roads are bare (without
travellers), as it is written [Lev. xxvi. 18 to the end of the paragraph].