The Yetzer Hora and His Many Tricks
By Benji Raymond
Reward is what Hashem wanted to give,
So he gave us a life of mitzvos to live.
Hashem created a yetzer tov for us too,
So that the right choice would be clearer for us to do.
“That’s not so hard,” you may proclaim,
But in Olam Haba you may feel shame,
So a yetzer hora Hashem did make,
And by conquering it, more reward you will be able to take.
The yetzer hora has many tricks up his sleeve,
And to our aveiros he really loves to cleave.
Mitzvos too – the yetzer hora is okay to do,
But not right now – maybe in an hour or two.
If you’re unsure if something is an aveirah or not,
Think this thought and a mitzvah you will spot:
A mitzvah, the yetzer hora loves to take time first to think about,
Whereas aveiros need to be done now without a doubt.
Taking is what the yetzer hora does best,
Giving tzedakah is his greatest test.
If it’s difficult to say no to an aveirah and hard to resist,
Try waiting a few moments before you insist.
The yetzer hora enjoys worrying about what will be,
It keeps him busy so mitzvos he will flee.
All of these things give the yetzer hora a stronger stance,
So that the yetzer tov will not stand a chance.
Too little sleep can make our yetzer tov weak,
and make mitzvos look oh so bleak.
So listen to your parents and go to bed without delay,
Then your yetzer tov will be strong and hold more sway.
Eating too many treats makes our yetzer hora grow,
It makes our aveiros have a greater glow.
So rather eat your Mommy’s healthy food,
And the yetzer hora will not be so shrewd.
If you think your yetzer hora is the stronger of the two,
Or maybe you’ve lost a battle, or even a few,
Then daven to Hashem for help to get you through,
You will see that mitzvos He will help you do.
You’ve gone too far, you may hear the yetzer hora say,
But that’s just one of his tricks to keep your mitzvos at bay.
There is always a way to start things anew,
Start by finding a mitzvah you love to do.
The Torah is the vitamin which makes the yetzer tov grow strong,
It helps us so that we can learn not to do wrong.
With Torah we can conquer the yetzer hora every day,
And live a life of happiness and joy in every way.
