You are here: Kabbalah Library Home / Kabbalah for Children / Books / The Wise Heart / The Difference between Envy and Lust

The Difference between Envy and Lust

From Steps of the Ladder, Article no. 154, by Rabash

There once was a greedy man,
Who coveted everything he saw,
And a jealous man,
Who always envied what others owned,
Although he needed nothing.

They walked along together.
On the way, the king met them.
He said, "One of you
Shall ask something of me,
And I will grant it;
Then I will give the other
Double."

The greedy one desired both parts.
Hence, he did not wish to be the first to ask.
And the other didn't wish to ask first, either,
As he would be jealous of his friend
If he received twice what he, himself, was given.

Finally, the greedy one urged the envious one
To ask first.
What did the envious one do?
He asked for one of his eyes to be blinded,
So the king would give the greedy one double,
blinding both his eyes.

Back to top