22. Whosoever has these three attributes is of the disciples of
Abraham, our father, but whosoever has three other attributes is of
the disciples of Balaam, the wicked (54). A good eye (55), a humble
mind, and a lowly spirit (are the tokens) of the disciples of Abraham,
our father; an evil eye, a haughty mind, and a proud spirit (are the
signs) of the disciples of Balaam, the wicked. What is the difference
between the disciples of Abraham, our father, and those of Balaam, the
wicked? The disciples of Abraham, our father, enjoy this world and
inherit the world to come, as it is said, "That I may cause those that
love me to inherit substance, and may fill all their treasuries" (56);
but the disciples of Balaam, the wicked, inherit _Gehinnom_ (57), and
descend into the pit of destruction, as it is said, "But thou, O God,
wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction; bloodthirsty and
deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in
thee" (58).
(54) See Num. XXII-XXIV.
(55) See chapter II, note 30.
(56) Prov. VIII, 21: "Substance," _i.e._, in the future world;
"treasures," _i.e._, in this world.
(57) See chapter I, n. 18.
(58) Ps. LIV, 24.
23. Judah, the son of Tema, said, "Be bold as a leopard, swift as an
eagle, fleet as a hart, and strong as a lion, to do the will of thy
Father who is in Heaven" (59). 24. He used to say (60), "At five
years (the age is reached for the study of the) Scripture, at ten for
(the study of) the _Mishnah_ (61), at thirteen for (the fulfilment of)
the commandments (62), at fifteen for (the study of) the _Talmud_
(63), at eighteen for marriage, at twenty for seeking (a livelihood)
(64), at thirty for (entering into one's full) strength, at forty for
understanding, at fifty for counsel, at sixty (a man attains) old age,
at seventy the hoary head, at eighty (the gift of special) strength
(65), at ninety, (he bends beneath) the weight of years, at a hundred
he is as if he were already dead and had passed away from the world."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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