THOU SHALT NOT COVET. Many people are amazed at this commandment. They ask, how can a person not covet all attractive things that appear desirable to him in his heart? I will now answer you with an allegory.
Note that a peasant of sound mind who sees an enchanting princess will not entertain any covetous thoughts for her, for he knows this is impossible. This peasant will not think like the insane who desire to sprout wings and fly to the sky, for it is impossible.
Now, just as a man does not desire to marry his mother, although she is lovely, because he has been trained from his childhood to know that she is prohibited to him, so must every intelligent person understand that a person does not acquire an exquisite lady or money because of his intelligence or wisdom, but only by what God has apportioned to him.
The intelligent person will, therefore, neither desire nor covet. Once he knows that God has prohibited his neighbor's wife from him, she will be more exalted in his eyes than the princess is in the eyes of the peasant.
He will, therefore, be happy with his lot and will not allow his heart to covet and desire anything that is not his. He knows God did not want to give him, so he cannot acquire his strength, thoughts, or schemes.
He will, therefore, trust in his creator, that is, that his creator will sustain him and do what is right in His sight.