6. Joshua, son of Perechiah, and Natai the Arbelite received the oral law from them. Joshua, son of Perechiah, said, “get thyself a master, and obtain a companion, and judge all mankind with favor.” 7. Natai the Arbelite said, “withdraw from an evil neighbor, and associate not with the wicked, neither flatter thyself to escape punishment.” 8. Judah, son of Tabai, and Simon, son of Shetach, received it of them. Judah, son of Tabai, said, “consider not thyself as the arranger of the law, and when the parties are before thee in judgment, consider them as guilty; but when they are departed from thee, consider them as innocent, when they have acquiesced in the sentence.” 9. Simon, son of Shetach, said, “be extremely careful in the examination of witnesses, and be cautious in thy words, lest they from thence should learn to utter a falsehood.” 10. Shemaiah and Abtalyon(468) received it from them. Shemaiah said, “love thy business and hate dominion, and be unknown to government.” 11. Abtalyon said, “ye Sages, be cautious of your words, lest ye be doomed to captivity, and carried captive to a place of bad waters, and the disciples who follow you should drink of them, by which means the name of God may be profaned.” 12. Hillel and Shammai received it of them. Hillel said, “be thou of the disciples of Aaron, who loved peace, and pursued peace, so that thou love mankind, and allure them to the study of the law.” 13. He used to say, “whoever aggrandizes his name, destroys his name, and he who does not increase his knowledge in the law, shall be cut off, and he who does not study the law, is deserving of death, and he who serves himself with the crown of the law, will perish.” 14. He also said, “if I perform not good works myself, who can do them for me?” and “when I consider myself, what am I?” and “if not now, when shall I?” 15. Shammai said, “let thy study of the law be fixed, say little and do much, and receive all men with an open, pleasant face.” 16. Rabban Gamaliel said, “procure thyself an instructor, that thou mayest not be in doubt, and accustom not thyself to give tithes by conjecture.” 17. Simon, his son, said, “I have all my life been brought up among wise men, and never found anything so good for the body as silence, neither is the study of the law the principal thing, but its practice,” and “whoever multiplies words causes sin.” 18. Rabban Simon, son of Gamaliel, said the duration of the world depends on three things, justice, truth, and peace, as is said, “judge truth, and justice, and peace in your gates.” Chapter II