1. The son of Zoma said, “Who is wise? He who is willing to receive
instruction from all men, as is said, ‘Than all my teachers.’(490) Who is
mighty? He who subdues his evil imagination, as is said, ‘He that is slow
to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he
that taketh a city.’(491) Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot, as is
said, ‘For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands, happy shalt thou be
and it shall be well with thee’;(492) happy shalt thou be in this world,
and it shall be well with thee in the world to come. Who is honorable? He
who honors mankind, as is said, ‘For them that honor me I will honor, and
they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.’ ”(493)
2. Ben Asai said, “run to the performance of a slight precept as though it
were a grave one, and flee from transgression, for the performance of a
precept causes another precept, and transgression causes transgression, as
the reward of a commandment is a commandment, and the reward of
transgression is transgression.”
3. He used to say, “despise not all men, nor oppose all things, for there
is no man who has not his hour, neither is there anything that has not its
place.”
4. Rabbi Levitas of Jabneh said, “be very humble of spirit, as all the
hope of man is to be food for worms.” Rabbi Johanan, son of Beroka, said,
“whosoever profanes God’s name in secret will be punished publicly,
whether it be done ignorantly or presumptuously, it is all one in the
profanation of God’s name.”
5. Rabbi Ishmael, his son, said, “he who learns that he may be able to
teach others, will be enabled to study and to teach others; but he who
studies in order to perform the precepts, will be enabled to study, teach,
observe, and do the commandments.” Rabbi Zadok said, “make not the study
of the law subservient to thy aggrandizement, neither make a hatchet
thereof to hew therewith.” And thus said Hillel, “whosoever receiveth any
emolument from the words of the law deprives himself of life.”
6. Rabbi José said, “he who honors the law, his person shall be honored by
mankind; and he who profanes the law, his person shall be dishonored by
mankind.”
7. Rabbi Ishmael, his son, said, “he who avoids being a judge, delivers
himself from enmity, robbery, and false swearing; but he who is arrogant
in judging, is a proud wicked fool.”
8. He used to say, “judge not alone, for none ought to judge alone save
ONE; neither say, receive ye my opinion, for they are at liberty to accept
it, but thou canst not compel them.”
9. Rabbi Jonathan said, “whosoever performs the law in poverty, shall in
the end perform it in riches; but he who neglects the law for riches, will
in the end neglect it for poverty.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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