(32) Prov. IX, 11.
(33) _Ibid._, III, 16.
(34) _Ibid._, III, 2.
8. R. Simeon, the son of Judah, in the name of R. Simeon, the son of
Yohai, said, "Beauty, strength, riches, honor, wisdom, old age, a
hoary head, and children are comely to the righteous and comely to the
world, as it is said, 'The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be
found in the way of righteousness' (35); and it says, 'The glory of
young men is their strength, and the adornment of old men is the hoary
head' (36); and it says, 'A crown unto the wise is their riches' (37);
and it says, 'Children's children are the crown of old men, and the
adornment of children are their fathers' (38); and it is said, 'Then
the moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed; for the Lord of
hosts shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his
elders shall be glory'" (39). R. Simeon, the son of Menasya, said,
"These seven qualifications which the sages enumerated as becoming to
the righteous were all realized in Rabbi Judah, the Prince (40), and
in his sons."
(35) _Ibid._, XVI, 31.
(36) _Ibid._, XX, 29.
(37) Prov. XIV, 24.
(38) _Ibid._, XVII, 6.
(39) Isa. XXIV, 23.
(40) See chapter II, n. 1.
9. R. Jose, the son of Kisma (41), said, "I was once walking by the
way, when a man met me and saluted me, and I returned the salutation.
He said to me, 'Rabbi, from what place art thou?' I said to him, 'I
come from a great city of sages and scribes.' He said to me, 'If thou
art willing to dwell with us in our place, I will give thee a thousand
thousand golden dinars and precious stones and pearls.' I said to
him, 'Wert thou to give me all the silver and gold and precious stones
and pearls in the world, I would not dwell anywhere but in a home of
the _Torah';_ and thus it is written in the book of Psalms by the
hands of David, King of Israel, 'The law of thy mouth is better unto
me than thousands of gold and silver' (42); and not only so, but in
the hour of man's departure neither silver nor gold nor precious
stones nor pearls accompany him, but only _Torah_ and good works, as
it is said, 'When thou walkest it shall lead thee; when thou liest
down it shall watch over thee; and when thou awakest it shall talk
with thee' (43); 'when thou walkest it shall lead thee'--in this
world; and 'when thou awakest it shall talk with thee'--in the world
to come. And it says, 'The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,
saith the Lord of hosts'" (44).
(41) He lived about 120 C.E.
(42) Ps. XCIX, 72.
(43) Prov. VI, 22.
(44) Hag. II, 8.
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