7. R. Zadok said, "Separate not thyself from the congregation; (in the judge's office) act not the counsel's part (15); make not of the _Torah_ a crown wherewith to aggrandize thyself, nor a spade wherewith to dig" (16). So also used Hillel to say, "He who makes a worldly use of the crown (of the _Torah_) shall waste away" (17). Hence thou mayest infer that whosoever derives a profit for himself from the words of the _Torah_ is helping on his own destruction. (15) Cf. chapter I, 8. (16) _I.e._, for material and selfish ends. (17) Cf. chapter I, 13. 8. R. Jose (18) said, "Whoso honors the _Torah_ will himself be honored by mankind, but whoso dishonors the _Torah_ will himself be dishonored by mankind." (18) R. Jose ben Chalafta was a contemporary of R. Meir. 9. R. Ishmael (19), his son, said, "He who shuns the judicial office rids himself of hatred, robbery, and vain swearing (20); but he who presumptuously lays down decisions is foolish, wicked, and of an arrogant spirit." 10. He used to say, "Judge not alone, for none may judge alone save One; neither say (to thy judicial colleagues), 'Accept my view,' for the choice is theirs (to concur); and it is not for thee (to compel concurrence)." (19) He lived about 160-220 C.E. (20) The judge brings upon himself the hatred of the one who is disappointed by his judgment. An erroneous judgment is equivalent to robbery. When the judge exacts an unnecessary oath, perjury may result. 11. R. Jonathan (21) said, "Whoso fulfils the _Torah_ in the midst of poverty shall in the end fulfil it in the midst of wealth; and whoso neglects the _Torah_ in the midst of wealth shall in the end neglect it in the midst of poverty." (21) He lived about the middle of the second century C.E. He was a pupil of R. Ishmael (verse 9). 12. R. Meir (22) said, "Lessen thy toil for worldly goods, and be busy in the _Torah_; be humble of spirit before all men; if thou neglectest the _Torah_, many causes for neglecting it will be present themselves to thee, but if thou laborest in the _Torah_, He has abundant recompense to give thee." (22) See chapter III, n. 32. 13. R. Elieser (23), the son of Jacob, said, "He who does one precept has gotten himself one advocate; and he who commits one transgression has gotten himself one accuser. Repentance and good deeds are as a shield against punishment." (23) He lived about 140 C.E. 14. R. Jochanan, the sandal-maker (24), said, "Every assembly which is in the Name of Heaven will in the end be established, but that which is not in the Name of Heaven will not in the end be established."