Mishlei 11:1-9

(1) Rabbi Banna'ah opened [his discourse] (with Prov. 11:1), “Fraudulent scales are an abomination to the Lord….”:²⁷PRK 3:4; Ruth R. 1:2; cf. PR 13:5. if you see a generation whose measures are false, know that the empire [government] will engage that generation in battle. What is the evidence? [It is written] (ibid.), “Fraudulent scales are an abomination to the Lord….” And after that is written (in vs. 2), “When deliberate wickedness comes, disgrace comes as well.” R. Berekhyah said in the name of R. Abba bar Lahana (Micah 6:11), “’Shall I be righteous [and successful]²⁸The verb here is ha’ezkeh, which means “shall I be successful” as well as “shall I be righteous,” and the midrash understands the verb in both senses. with false scales?’ Is it really possible for a generation with false measures to be successful, (ibid., cont.), ‘and have a bag of fraudulent weights’?”²⁹Avne. So most translations. However, since Avne can mean “gemstones” as well as “weights,” Braude, and I.J. Kapstein, Pesikta de Rab Kahana (Philadelphia: JPSA, 1975), p. 47, n. 37, may be correct using this meaning. They would understand Micah 6:11 in a sense like the following: IF GEMSTONES GOTTEN THROUGH FRAUD, [BY FALSE BALANCES], ARE IN ONE’S BAG (i.e. IN ONE’S PURSE), HE WILL FIND HIMSELF DEFRAUDED. R. Levi said, “Moses also alluded to it (honest weights) for them in the Torah (in Deut. 25:13-14), ‘You shall not have alternative weights in your bag, [a larger and a smaller]. You shall not have in your house….’ If you do so, the empire will come and engage you in battle.” And what evidence is there? (Deut.: 25:16:) “For [everyone who does these things, who acts dishonestly, is an abomination to the Lord.” What is written after that (in vs. 17)? “Remember what Amalek did to you.”