משלי, פרק כ״א, פסוק י״ז

A life dedicated to the endless pursuit of pleasure, luxury, and physical satisfaction exacts a heavy toll, both materially and mentally. Rather than bringing the desired fulfillment, hedonism ultimately leads to emptiness and poverty.

The primary approach among commentators is that an individual constantly chasing the joys of partying, eating, and worldly possessions will inevitably face severe deprivation and lose his wealth [רש״י, אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד]. This dynamic is illustrated by a lifestyle centered around heavy drinking, rich foods, and perfumed oils. Unlike expensive clothing, which lasts over time, the consumption of fine food and drink is a daily, massive expense, ensuring that such a person will never accumulate wealth [עמנואל הרומי].

While some view the focus on rich foods and drink as a simple repetition of the warning against chasing joy [מצודת דוד], others draw a sharp psychological and practical distinction. On a psychological level, a person obsessed with material joy suffers from a constant sense of emptiness because physical thrills fade quickly. The moment he gets what he wants, the excitement vanishes, and he immediately hunts for the next high. He is forever unfulfilled; the more he tries to satisfy his urges, the hungrier he becomes [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ, עמנואל הרומי]. On a practical level, indulging in daily luxuries causes direct financial harm, actively draining a person's funds and preventing true prosperity [מלבי״ם].

Taking these concepts into the realm of the mind and spirit, the pursuit of bodily desires actively prevents a person from reaching inner perfection. In this light, the resulting poverty and deprivation are not merely financial. They represent a deep intellectual deficiency and an inability to acquire the ultimate true wealth, which is wisdom [רלב״ג, עמנואל הרומי].

In contrast to these warnings, a surprising alternative interpretation reads this dynamic as a praise of living with less. According to this view, true joy is found by someone who intentionally deprives himself of worldly luxuries, choosing to make do with only the bare necessities. By deliberately limiting his physical desires, this person attains the happiness of genuine spiritual wealth and a close connection to God, a state of being that the glutton will never achieve [עמנואל הרומי].