,,transcriber',s ,,comments  ,the    
source book for this e-text included an 
,introduction1 ,preface1 and extensive  
footnotes4  ,these are omitted in this  
text1 which consists of only the        
translation of the ,pirkei ,avot4  ,a   
full version of this e-text may be found
 as a different entry in the ,gutenburg 
,project archives4  ,see the end of this
 e-text for ,transcriber's ,notes4      
,,library ,,of ,,jewish                 
,,classics-,,iii4               ,the    
,sayings of the              ,jewish    
,fathers               pirkei avot      
,,pirke ,,abot                          
,translated1 with an                    
,introduction and ,notes                
,,by        ,,joseph ,i4 ,,gorfinkle1   
,ph4,d4                 ,author of  ,the
 ,eight ,chapters of ,maimonides on     
,ethics                                 
,,second ,,edition       ,,sayings ,,of 
,,the ,,fathers  ,one of the following  
chapters is read on each ,sabbath from  
the ,sabbath after ,passover until the  

,sabbath before ,new ,year4  ,all       
,israel have a portion in the world to  
come1 and it is said1 ,and thy people   
shall be all righteous2 they shall      
inherit the land for ever1 the branch of
 my planting1 the work of my hands1 that
 ,i may be glorified4  ,,chapter ,i  #a4
 ,moses received the ,torah from ,sinai1
 and handed it down to ,joshua1 and     
,joshua to the elders1 and the elders to
 the prophets1 and the prophets         
delivered it to the men of the ,great   
,synagogue4  ,they said three things1   
,be deliberate in judgment2 raise up    
many disciples2 and make a fence about  
the ,torah4  #b4 ,simon1 the ,just1 was 
of the last survivors of the ,great     
,synagogue4 ,he used to say1 ,upon three
 things the world rests3 upon the       
,torah1 upon the ,temple service1 and   
upon the doing of acts of kindness4  #c4
 ,antigonus of ,soko received 7the      
tradition7 from ,simon1 the ,just4 ,he  
used to say1 ,be not like hirelings who 
work for their master for the sake of   

receiving recompense2 but be like       
servants who minister to their master   
without any thought of receiving a      
reward2 and let the fear of ,heaven be  
upon you4  #d4 ,jose1 the son of        
,joezer1 of ,zeredah1 and ,jose1 the son
 of ,jochanan1 of ,jerusalem received   
7the tradition7 from them4  ,jose1 the  
son of ,joezer1 of ,zeredah said1 ,let  
thy house be a meeting-place for the    
wise2 cover thyself with the dust of    
their feet1 and drink in their words    
with thirst4  #e4 ,jose1 the son of     
,jochanan1 of ,jerusalem said1 ,let thy 
house be open wide2 let the poor be     
members of thy household1 and engage not
 in much gossip with woman4  ,this      
applies to one's own wife2 how much     
more1 then1 to the wife of one's        
neighbor8  ,hence the sages say1 ,whoso 
engages in much gossip with woman brings
 evil upon himself1 neglects the study  
of the ,torah1 and will in the end      
inherit gehinnom4  #f4 ,joshua1 the son 
of ,perachyah1 and ,nittai1 the         

,arbelite1 received 7the tradition7 from
 them4  ,joshua1 the son of ,perachyah1 
said1 ,provide thyself with a teacher1  
and possess thyself of a companion2 and 
judge every man in the scale of merit4  
#g4 ,nittai1 the ,arbelite1 said1 ,keep 
aloof from a bad neighbor2 associate not
 with the wicked1 and abandon not the   
belief in retribution4  #h4 ,judah1 the 
son of ,tabbi1 and ,simeon1 the son of  
,shatach1 received 7the tradition7 from 
them4  ,judah1 the son of ,tabbi1 said1 
7,in the judge's office7 act not the    
counsel's part2 while the litigants are 
standing before thee1 let them be       
regarded by thee as guilty1 but when    
they are departed from thy presence1    
regard them as innocent1 the verdict    
having been acquiesced in by them4  #i4 
,simeon1 the son of ,shatach1 said1 ,be 
very searching in the examination of    
witnesses1 and be guarded in thy words1 
lest through them they learn to lie4    
#aj4 ,shemaiah and ,abtalion received   
7the tradition7 from them4 ,shemaiah    

said1 ,love work2 hate lordship2 and    
seek no intimacy with the ruling power4 
#aa4 ,abtalion said1 ,ye sages1 be      
heedful of your words1 lest ye incur the
 penalty of exile and be exiled to a    
place of evil waters1 and the disciples 
who come after you drink thereof and    
die1 and the ,heavenly ,name be         
profaned4  #ab4 ,hillel and ,shammai    
received 7the tradition7 from them4     
,hillel said1 ,be of the disciples of   
,aaron1 loving peace and pursuing peace1
 loving mankind and drawing them night  
to the ,torah4  #ac4 ,he used to say1 ,a
 name made great is a name destroyed2 he
 who does not increase 7his knowledge7  
decreases 7it72 and he who does not     
study deserves to die2 and he who makes 
a worldly use of the crown 7of the      
,torah7 shall waste away4  #ad4 ,he used
 to say1 ,if ,i am not for myself1 who  
will be for me8  ,but if ,i care for    
myself only1 what am ,i8  ,and if not   
now1 when8  #ae4 ,shammai said1 ,set a  
fixed time for thy 7study of7 ,torah2   

say little and do much2 and receive all 
men with a cheerful countenance4  #af4  
,rabban ,gamaliel said1 ,provide thyself
 with a teacher2 be quit of doubt2 and  
accustom not thyself to give tithes by a
 conjectural estimate4  #ag4 ,simeon his
 son1 said1 ,all my days ,i have grown  
up amongst the wise1 and ,i have found  
nothing better for man than silence2 not
 learning but doing is the chief thing2 
and whoso multiplies words causes sin4  
#ah4 ,rabban ,simeon1 the son of        
,gamaliel said1 ,by three things is the 
world preserved2 by truth1 by judgment1 
and by peace1 as it is said1 ',judge ye 
the truth and the judgment of peace in  
your gates4'  ,rabbi ,chanania1 the son 
of ,akashia1 said1 ,the ,holy ,one1     
blessed be ,he1 was pleased to make     
,israel worthy2 wherefore ,he gave them 
a copious ,torah and many commandments1 
as it is said1 ',it pleased the ,lord1  
for his righteousness' sake1 to magnify 
the ,torah and make it honorable4'      
,,chapter ,,ii  ,all ,israel have a     

portion in the world to come1 and it is 
said1 ,and thy people shall be all      
righteous2 they shall inherit the land  
for ever1 the branch of my planting1 the
 work of my hands1 that ,i may be       
glorified4  #a4 ,rabbi said1 which is   
the right course that a man should      
choose for himself8  ,that which is a   
pride to him who pursues it and which   
also brings him honor from mankind4  ,be
 as scrupulous about a light precept as 
about a grave one1 for thou knowest not 
the grant of reward for each precept4   
,reckon the loss incurred by the        
fulfilment of a precept against the     
reward secured by its observance1 and   
the gain gotten by a transgression      
against the loss it involves4  ,consider
 three things1 that thou mayest not come
 within the power of sin4  ,know what is
 above thee--a seeing eye1 and a hearing
 ear1 and all thy deeds written in a    
book4  #b4 ,rabban ,gamaliel1 the son of
 ,rabbi ,judah1 the ,prince1 said1      
,excellent is the study of ,torah       

combined with some worldly pursuit1 for 
the effort demanded by them both makes  
sin to be forgotten4  ,all study of     
,torah without work must at length be   
futile1 and leads to sin4  ,let all who 
are employed with the congregation act  
with them for ,heaven's sake1 for then  
the merit of their fathers sustains     
them1 and their righteousness endures   
for ever4  ,and as for you 7,god will   
then say71 ',i account you worthy of    
great reward1 as if you had wrought it  
all yourselves4'  #c4 ,be on your guard 
against the ruling power2 for they who  
exercise it draw no man near to them    
except for their own interests2         
appearing as friends when it is to their
 own advantage1 they stand not by a man 
in the hour of his need4  #d4 ,he used  
to say1 ,do ,his will as if it were thy 
will4  ,nullify thy will before ,his    
will1 that ,he may nullify the will of  
others before thy will4  #e4 ,hillel    
said1 ,separate not thyself from the    
congregation2 trust not in thyself until

 the day of thy death2 judge not thy    
neighbor until thou art come into his   
place2 and say not anything which cannot
 be understood at once1 in the hope that
 it will be understood in the end2      
neither say1 ',when ,i have leisure ,i  
will study'2 perchance thou wilt have no
 leisure4  #f4 ,he used to say1 ,an     
empty-headed man cannot be a sin-fearing
 man1 nor can an ignorant person be     
pious1 nor can a shamefaced man learn1  
nor a passionate man teach1 nor can one 
who is engaged overmuch in business grow
 wise4  ,in a place where there are no  
men1 strive to be a man4  #g4 ,moreover1
 he once saw a skull floating on the    
surface of the water4  ,he said to it1  
,because thou didst drown 7others7 they 
have drowned thee1 and at the last they 
that drowned thee shall themselves be   
drowned4  #h4 ,he used to say1 ,the more
 flesh1 the more works2 the more        
property1 the more anxiety2 the more    
women1 the more witchcraft2 the more    
maid-servants1 the more lewdness2 the   

more men-servants1 the more robbery2 the
 more ,torah1 the more life2 the more   
schooling1 the more wisdom2 the more    
counsel1 the more understanding2 the    
more charity1 the more peace4  ,he who  
has acquired a good name has acquired it
 for himself2 he who has acquired for   
himself words of ,torah has acquired for
 himself life in the world to come4  #i4
 ,rabban ,jochanan1 the son of ,zakkai  
received 7the tradition7 from ,hillel   
and ,shammai4  ,he used to say1 ,if thou
 hast learnt much ,torah1 ascribe not   
any merit to thyself1 for thereunto wast
 thou created4  #aj4 ,rabban ,jochanan1 
the son of ,zakkai1 had five disciples1 
and these are they3 ,rabbi ,eliezer1 the
 son of ,hyrcanus2 ,rabbi ,joshua1 the  
son of ,hananiah2 ,rabbi ,jose1 the     
,priest2 ,rabbi ,simeon1 the son of     
,nataniel2 and ,rabbi ,eleazar1 the son 
of ,arach4  #aa4 ,he used thus to       
recount their praise3 ,eliezer1 the son 
of ,hyrcanus1 is a cemented cistern1    
which loses not a drop2 ,joshua1 the son

 of ,hananiah1 happy is she that bare   
him2 ,jose1 the ,priest1 is a pious man2
 ,simeon1 the son of ,nataniel1 is a    
fearer of sin2 ,eleazar1 the son of     
,arach1 is like a spring flowing with   
ever-sustained vigor4  #ab4 ,he used to 
say1 ,if all the sages of ,israel were  
in one scale of the balance1 and        
,eliezer1 the son of ,hyrcanus1 in the  
other1 he would outweigh them all4      
,abba ,saul said in his name1 ,if all   
the sages of ,israel were in one scale  
of the balance1 and ,eliezer1 the son of
 ,hyrcanus1 also with them1 and         
,eleazar1 the son of ,arach1 in the     
other scale1 he would outweigh them all4
  #ac4 ,he said to them1 ,go forth and  
see which is the good way to which a man
 should cleave4  ,r4 ,eliezer said1 ,a  
good eye2 ,r4 ,joshua said1 ,a good     
friend2 ,r4 ,jose said1 ,a good         
neighbor2 ,r4 ,simeon said1 ,one who    
foresees the fruit of an action2 ,r4    
,eleazar said1 ,a good heart4           
,thereupon he said to them1 ,i approve  

of the words of ,eleazar1 the son of    
,arach1 rather than your words1 for in  
his words yours are included4  #ad4 ,he 
said to them1 ,go forth and see which is
 the evil way that a man should shun4   
,r4 ,eliezer said1 ,an evil eye2 ,r4    
,joshua said1 ,a bad friend2 ,r4 ,jose  
said1 ,a bad neighbor2 ,r4 ,simeon said1
 ,one who borrows and does not repay--it
 is the same whether one borrows from   
man or the ,omnipresent2 as it is said1 
',the wicked borroweth and payeth not   
again1 but the righteous dealeth        
graciously and giveth'2 ,r4 ,eleazar    
said1 ,a bad heart4  ,thereupon he said 
to them1 ,i approve of the words of     
,eleazar1 the son of ,arach1 rather then
 your words1 for in his words yours are 
included4  #ae4 ,they each said three   
things4  ,r4 ,eliezer said1 ,let thy    
friend's honor be as dear to thee as    
thine own2 be not easily excited to     
anger2 and repent one day before thy    
death4  ,and 7he further said71 ,warm   
thyself by the fire of the wise1 but    

beware of their glowing coals1 lest thou
 be burnt1 for their bite is the bite of
 the fox1 and their sting is the        
scorpion's sting1 and their hiss is the 
serpent's hiss1 and all their words are 
like coals of fire4  #af4 ,r4 ,joshua   
said1 ,the evil eye1 the evil           
inclination1 and hatred of his          
fellow-creatures1 put a man out of the  
world4  #ag4 ,r4 ,jose said1 ,let the   
property of thy friend be as dear to    
thee as thine own2 prepare thyself for  
the study of ,torah1 since the knowledge
 of it is not an inheritance of thine1  
and let all thy deeds be done in the    
name of ,god4  #ah4 ,r4 ,simeon said1   
,be careful in reading the ,shema and   
the ,amidah2 and when thou prayest1     
consider not thy prayer as a fixed      
7mechanical7 task1 but as 7an appeal    
for7 mercy and grace before the         
,all-present1 as it is said1 ',for he is
 gracious and full of mercy1 slow to    
anger1 and abounding in loving-kindness1
 and repenteth him of the evil'2 and be 

not wicked in thine own esteem4  #ai4   
,r4 ,eleazar said1 ,be diligent in      
studying ,torah1 and know what answer to
 give to the unbeliever2 know also      
before whom thou toilest1 and who thy   
,employer is1 who will pay thee the     
reward of thy labor4  #bj4 ,rabbi       
,tafron said1 ,the day is short1 the    
task is great1 the laborers are         
sluggish1 the reward is much1 and the   
,master of the house is urgent4  #ba4   
,he also used to say1 ,it is not thy    
duty to complete the work1 but neither  
art thou free to desist from it2 if thou
 hast studied much ,torah1 much reward  
will be given thee2 and faithful is thy 
,employer to pay thee the reward of thy 
labor2 and know that the grant of reward
 unto the righteous will be in the time 
to come4  ,rabbi ,chanania1 the son of  
,akashia1 said1 ,the ,holy ,one1 blessed
 be ,he1 was pleased to make ,israel    
worthy2 wherefore ,he gave them a       
copious ,torah and many commandments1 as
 it is said1 ',it pleased the ,lord1 for

 his righteousness' sake1 to magnify the
 ,torah and make it honorable'4         
,,chapter ,,iii  ,all ,israel have a    
portion in the world to come1 and it is 
said1 ,and thy people shall be all      
righteous2 they shall inherit the land  
for ever1 the branch of my planting1 the
 work of my hands1 that ,i may be       
glorified4  #a4 ,akabia1 the son of     
,mahalalel1 said1 ,consider three       
things1 and thou wilt not come within   
the power of sin3 know whence thou      
camest1 and whither thou art going1 and 
before whom thou wilt in the future have
 to give an account and reckoning4      
,whence thou camest3 from a fetid drop2 
whether thou art going3 to a place of   
dust1 worms1 and maggots2 and before    
whom thou wilt in the future have to    
give an account and reckoning3 before   
the ,supreme ,king of kings1 the ,holy  
,one1 blessed be ,he4  #b4 ,r4 ,chanina1
 the ,vice-,high-,priest1 said1 ,pray   
for the welfare of the government1 since
 but for the fear thereof men would     

swallow each other alive4  #c4 ,r4      
,chananiah1 the son of ,teradion1 said1 
,if two sit together and interchange no 
words of ,torah1 they are a meeting of  
scorners1 concerning whom it is said1   
',the godly man sitteth not in the seat 
of the scorners'2 but if two sit        
together and interchange words of       
,torah1 the ,divine ,presence abides    
among them2 as it is said1 ',then they  
that feared the ,lord spake one with the
 other2 and the ,lord hearkened and     
heard1 and a book of remembrance was    
written before ,him1 for them that      
feared the ,lord1 and that thought upon 
,his name4'  ,now the ,scripture enables
 me to draw this inference in respect to
 two persons2 whence can it be deduced  
that if even one person sedulously      
occupies himself with the ,torah1 the   
,holy ,one1 blessed be ,he1 appoints    
unto him a reward8  ,because it is said1
 'though he sit alone1 and meditate in  
stillness1 yet he taketh it 7the reward7
 upon him4'  #d4 ,r4 ,simeon said1 ,if  

three have eaten at a table and have    
spoken there no words of ,torah1 it is  
as if they had eaten of sacrifices to   
dead idols1 of whom it is said1 ',for   
all their tables are full of vomit and  
filthiness2 the ,all-present is not 7in 
their thoughts74' ,but if three have    
eaten at a table and have spoken there  
words of ,torah1 it is as if they had   
eaten at the table of the ,all-present1 
for ,scripture says1 ',and he said unto 
me1 ,this is the table that is before   
the ,lord4'  #e4 ,r4 ,chanina1 the son  
of ,hakinai1 said1 ,he who keeps awake  
at night1 and goes on his way alone1    
while turning his heart to vanity1 such 
a one forfeits his own life4  #f4 ,r4   
,nechunya1 son of ha-,kanah1 said1      
,whoso receives upon himself the yoke of
 the ,torah1 from the yoke of the       
kingdom and the yoke of worldly care    
will be removed1 but whoso breaks off   
from him the yoke of the ,torah1 upon   
him will be laid the yoke of the kingdom
 and the yoke of worldly care4  #g4 ,r4 

,chalafta1 the son of ,dosa1 of the     
village of ,chanania said1 ,when ten    
people sit together and occupy          
themselves with the ,torah1 the         
,shechinah abides among them1 as it is  
said1 ',god standeth in the congregation
 of the godly4'  ,and whence can it be  
shown that the same applies to five8    
,because it is said1 ',he hath found his
 band upon the earth4'  ,and whence can 
it be shown that the same applies to    
three8 ,because it is said1 ',he judgeth
 among the judges4'  ,and whence can it 
be shown that the same applies to two8  
,because it is said1 ',then they that   
feared the ,lord spake one with the     
other2 and the ,lord hearkened1 and     
heard4'  ,and whence can it be shown    
that the same applies even to one8      
,because it is said1 ',in every place   
where ,i cause my name to be remembered 
,i will come unto thee and ,i will bless
 thee4'  #h4 ,r4 ,eleazar of ,bertota   
said1 ,give unto ,him of what is ,his1  
for thou and thine are ,his3 this is    

also found expressed by ,david1 who     
said1 ',for all things come of ,thee1   
and of ,thine own we have given ,thee4' 
#i4 ,r4 ,jacob said1 ,he who is walking 
by the way and studying1 and breaks off 
his study and says1 ',how fine is that  
tree1 how fine is that fallow1' him the 
,scripture regards as if he had         
forfeited his life4  #aj4 ,r4 ,dostai1  
the son of ,jannai1 said in the name of 
,r4 ,meir1 ,whoso forgets one word of   
his study1 him the ,scripture regards as
 if he had forfeited his life1 for it is
 said1 ',only take heed to thyself1 and 
keep thy soul diligently1 lest thou     
forget the things which thine eyes have 
seen4'  ,now1 one might suppose 7that   
the same result follows7 even if a man's
 study has been too hard for him4  7,to 
guard against such an inference71 it is 
said1 ',and lest they depart from thy   
heart all the days of thy life4'  ,thus 
a person's guilt is not established     
until he deliberately and of set purpose
 removes those lessons from his heart4  

#aa4 ,r4 ,chanina1 the son of ,dosa1    
said1 ,he in whom the fear of sin       
precedes wisdom1 his wisdom shall       
endure2 but he in whom wisdom comes     
before the fear of sin1 his wisdom will 
not endure4  #ab4 ,he used to say1 ,he  
whose works exceed his wisdom1 his      
wisdom shall endure2 but he whose wisdom
 exceeds his works1 his wisdom will not 
endure4  #ac4 ,he used to say1 ,he in   
whom the spirit of his fellow-creatures 
takes not delight1 in him the ,spirit of
 the ,all-present takes not delight4    
#ad4 ,r4 ,dosa1 the son of ,horkinas1   
said1 ,morning sleep1 midday wine1      
childish babbling1 and attending the    
houses of assembly of the ignorant waste
 a man's life4  #ae4 ,r4 ,eleazar       
ha-,mudai said1 ,he who profanes things 
sacred1 and despises the festivals1 and 
puts his fellow-man to shame in public1 
and makes void the covenant of ,abraham1
 our father1 and makes the ,torah bear a
 meaning other than the right2 7such a  
one7 even though knowledge of the ,torah

 and good deeds be his1 has no share in 
the world to come4  #af4 ,r4 ,ishmael   
said1 ,be submissive to a superior1     
affable to the young1 and receive all   
men with cheerfulness4  #ag4 ,r4 ,akiba 
said1 ,jesting and levity lead a man on 
to lewdness4  ,the ,massorah is a       
rampart around the ,torah2 tithes are a 
safeguard to riches2 good resolves are a
 fence to abstinence2 a hedge around    
wisdom is silence4  #ah4 ,he used to    
say1 ,beloved is man1 for he was created
 in the image 7of ,god72 but it was by a
 special love that it was made known to 
him that he was created in the image of 
,god1 as it is said1 ',for in the image 
of ,god made he man4'  ,beloved are     
,israel1 or they were called children of
 the ,all-present1 but it was by a      
special love that it was made known to  
them that they were called children of  
the ,all-present1 as it is said1 ',ye   
are children unto the ,lord your ,god4' 
,beloved are ,israel1 for unto them was 
given the desirable instrument2 but it  

was by a special love that it was made  
known to them that that desirable       
instrument was theirs1 through which the
 world was created1 as it is said1 ',for
 ,i give you good doctrine2 forsake ye  
not my ,torah4'  #ai4 ,everything is    
foreseen1 yet free will is given2 and   
the world is judged by grace1 yet all is
 according to the amount of the work4   
#bj4 ,he used to say1 ,everything is    
given on pledge1 and a net is spread for
 all living2 the shop is open2 the      
dealer gives credit2 the ledger lies    
open2 the hand writes2 and whosoever    
wishes to borrow may come and borrow2   
but the collectors regularly make their 
daily round1 and exact payment from man 
whether he be content or not2 and they  
have that whereon they can rely in their
 demand2 and the judgment is a judgment 
of truth2 and everything is prepared for
 the feast4  #ba4 ,r4 ,eleazar1 the son 
of ,azariah1 said1 ,where there is no   
,torah1 there are no manners2 where     
there are no manners1 there is no       

,torah3 where there is no wisdom1 there 
is no fear of ,god2 where there is no   
fear of ,god1 there is no wisdom3 where 
there is no knowledge1 there no         
understanding2 where there is no        
understanding1 there is no knowledge3   
where there is no meal1 there is no     
,torah2 where there is no ,torah1 there 
is no meal4  #bb4 ,he used to say1 ,he  
whose wisdom exceeds his works1 to what 
is he like8  ,to a tree whose branches  
are many1 but whose roots are few2 and  
the wind comes and plucks it up1 and    
overturns it upon its face1 as it is    
said1 ',and he shall be like a lonely   
juniper tree in the desert1 and shall   
not see when good cometh2 but shall     
inhabit the parched places in the       
wilderness1 a salt land and not         
inhabited4'  ,but he whose works exceed 
his wisdom1 to what is he like8  ,to a  
tree whose branches are few1 but whose  
roots are many1 so that though all the  
winds in the world come and blow upon   
it1 they cannot stir it from its place1 

as it is said1 ',and he shall be as a   
tree planted by the waters2 and that    
spreadeth out its roots by the river and
 shall not perceive when heat cometh1   
but his leaf shall be green2 and shall  
not be troubled in the year of drought1 
neither shall cease from yielding       
fruit4'  #bc4 ,r4 ,eleazar ,chisma said1
 ,the laws concerning the sacrifices of 
birds and the purification of women are 
essential ordinances2 astronomy and     
geometry are the after-courses of       
wisdom4  ,rabbi ,chanania1 the son of   
,akashia1 said1 ,the ,holy ,one1 blessed
 be ,he1 was pleased to make ,israel    
worthy2 wherefore ,he gave them a       
copious ,torah and many commandments1 as
 it is said1 ',it pleased the ,lord1 for
 his righteousness' sake1 to magnify the
 ,torah and make it honorable'4         
,,chapter ,,iv  ,all ,israel have a     
portion in the world to come1 and it is 
said1 ,and thy people shall be all      
righteous2 they shall inherit the land  
for ever1 the branch of my planting1 the

 work of my hands1 that ,i may be       
glorified4  #a4 ,ben ,zoma said1 ,who is
 wise8  ,he who learns from all men1 as 
it is said1 'from all my teachers have  
,i gotten understanding4'  ,who is      
mighty8  ,he who controls his passions1 
as it is said1 ',he that is slow to     
anger is better than the mighty1 and he 
that ruleth over his spirit than he that
 taketh a city4'  ,who is rich8  ,he who
 rejoices in his portion1 as it is said1
 ',when thou eatest the labor of thine  
hands1 happy art thou1 and it shall be  
well with thee'2 happy art thou in this 
world1 and it shall be well with thee in
 the world to come4  ,who is honored8   
,he who honors others1 as it is said1   
',for them that honor me ,i will honor1 
and they that despise me shall be held  
in contempt4'  #b4 ,ben ,azzai said1    
,hasten to do even a slight precept1 and
 flee from transgression2 for one virtue
 leads to another1 and transgression    
draws transgression in its train2 for   
the recompense of a virtue is a virtue1 

and the recompense of a transgression is
 a transgression4  #c4 ,he used to say1 
,despise not any man1 and carp not at   
any thing2 for there is not a man that  
has not his hour1 and there is not a    
thing that has not its place4  #d4 ,r4  
,levitas of ,jabneh said1 ,be           
exceedingly lowly of spirit1 since the  
hope of man is but the worm4  #e4 ,r4   
,jochanan1 the son of ,berokah1 said1   
,whosoever profanes the ,name of ,heaven
 in secret will suffer the penalty for  
it in public2 and this1 whether the     
,heavenly ,name be profaned in ignorance
 or in wilfulness4  #f4 ,r4 ,ishmael1   
his son1 said1 ,he who learns in order  
to teach1 to him the means will be      
granted both to learn and to teach2 but 
he who learns in order to practise1 to  
him the means will be granted to learn1 
and to teach1 to observe1 and to        
practise4  #g4 ,r4 ,zadok said1         
,separate not thyself from the          
congregation2 7in the judge's office7   
act not the counsel's part2 make not of 

the ,torah a crown wherewith to         
aggrandize thyself1 nor a spade         
wherewith to dig4 ,so also used ,hillel 
to say1 ,he who makes a worldly use of  
the crown 7of the ,torah7 shall waste   
away4  ,hence thou mayest infer that    
whosoever derives a profit for himself  
from the words of the ,torah is helping 
on his own destruction4  #h4 ,r4 ,jose  
said1 ,whoso honors the ,torah will     
himself be honored by mankind1 but whoso
 dishonors the ,torah will himself be   
dishonored by mankind4  #i4 ,r4         
,ishmael1 his son1 said1 ,he who shuns  
the judicial office rids himself of     
hatred1 robbery1 and vain swearing2 but 
he who presumptuously lays down         
decisions is foolish1 wicked1 and of an 
arrogant spirit4  #aj4 ,he used to say1 
,judge not alone1 for none may judge    
alone save ,one2 neither say 7to thy    
judicial colleagues71 ',accept my view1'
 for the choice is theirs 7to concur72  
and it is not for thee 7to compel       
concurrence74  #aa4 ,r4 ,jonathan said1 

,whoso fulfils the ,torah in the midst  
of poverty shall in the end fulfil it in
 the midst of wealth2 and whoso neglects
 the ,torah in the midst of wealth shall
 in the end neglect it in the midst of  
poverty4  #ab4 ,r4 ,meir said1 ,lessen  
thy toil for worldly goods1 and be busy 
in the ,torah2 be humble of spirit      
before all men2 if thou neglectest the  
,torah1 many causes for neglecting it   
will be present themselves to thee1 but 
if thou laborest in the ,torah1 ,he has 
abundant recompense to give thee4  #ac4 
,r4 ,elieser1 the son of ,jacob1 said1  
,he who does one precept has gotten     
himself one advocate2 and he who commits
 one transgression has gotten himself   
one accuser4  ,repentance and good deeds
 are as a shield against punishment4    
#ad4 ,r4 ,jochanan1 the sandal-maker1   
said1 ,every assembly which is in the   
,name of ,heaven will in the end be     
established1 but that which is not in   
the ,name of ,heaven will not in the end
 be established4  #ae4 ,r4 ,eleazer1 the

 son of ,shammua1 said1 ,let the honor  
of thy disciple be as dear to thee as   
thine own1 and the honor of thine       
associate be like the fear of thy       
master1 and the fear of thy master like 
the fear of ,heaven4  #af4 ,r4 ,judah   
said1 ,be cautious in study1 for an     
error in study may amount to            
presumptuous sin4  #ag4 ,r4 ,simeon     
said1 ,there are three crowns3 the crown
 of ,torah1 the crown of priesthood1 and
 the crown of royalty2 but the crown of 
a good name excels them all4  #ah4 ,r4  
,nehorai said1 ,betake thyself to a home
 of the ,torah1 and say not that the    
,torah will come after thee2 for there  
thy associates will establish thee in   
the possession of it2 and lean not upon 
thine own understanding4  #ai4 ,r4      
,jannia said1 ,it is not in our power   
7to explain7 either the prosperity of   
the wicked or the afflictions of the    
righteous4  #bj4 ,r4 ,mattithiah1 the   
son of ,heresh1 said1 ,be beforehand in 
the salutation of peace to all men2 and 

be rather a tail to lions than a head to
 foxes4  #ba4 ,r4 ,jacob said1 ,this    
world is like a vestibule before the    
world to come2 prepare thyself in the   
vestibule1 that thou mayest enter into  
the hall4  #bb4 ,he used to say1 ,better
 is one hour of repentance and good     
deeds in this world than the whole life 
of the world to come2 and better is one 
hour of blissfulness of spirit in the   
world to come than the whole life of    
this world4  #bc4 ,r4 ,simeon1 the son  
of ,eleazer1 said1 ,do not appease thy  
fellow in the hour of his anger1 and    
comfort him not in the hour when his    
dead lies before him1 and question him  
not in the hour of his vow1 and rush not
 to see him in the hour of his disgrace4
  #bd4 ,samuel1 the younger1 used to    
say1 ,rejoice not when thine enemy      
falleth1 and let not thine heart be glad
 when he stumbleth3 lest the ,lord see  
it and it displease him1 and he turn    
away his wrath from him4  #be4 ,elisha1 
the son of ,abuyah1 said1 ,if one learns

 as a child1 what is it like8  ,like ink
 written in clean paper4  ,if one learns
 as an old man1 what is it like8  ,like 
ink written on used paper4  #bf4 ,r4    
,jose1 the son of ,judah1 of ,chefar    
,babli said1 ,he who learns from the    
young1 to what is he like8  ,to one who 
eats unripe grapes1 and drinks wine from
 his vat4  ,and he who learns from the  
old1 to what is he like8  ,to one who   
eats ripe grapes1 and drinks old wine4  
#bg4 ,rabbi ,meir said1 ,look not at the
 flask1 but at what it contains3 there  
may be a new flask full of old wine1 and
 an old flask that has not even new wine
 in it4  #bh4 ,r4 ,eleazar ha-,kappar   
said1 ,envy1 cupidity1 and ambition take
 a man from the world4  #bi4 ,he used to
 say1 ,they that are born are doomed to 
die2 and the dead to be brought to life 
again2 and the living to be judged1 to  
know1 to make known1 and to be made     
conscious that ,he is ,god1 ,he the     
,maker1 ,he the ,creator1 ,he the       
,discerner1 ,he the ,judge1 ,he the     

,witness1 ,he the ,accuser2 ,he it is   
that will in future judge1 blessed be   
,he1 with ,whom there is no             
unrighteousness1 nor forgetfulness1 nor 
respect of persons1 nor taking of       
bribes2 and know also that everything is
 according to the reckoning2 and let not
 thy imagination give thee hope that the
 grave will be a place of refuge for    
thee2 for perforce thou wast formed1 and
 perforce thou wast born1 and thou      
livest perforce1 and perforce thou wilt 
die1 and perforce thou wilt in the      
future have to give account and         
reckoning before the ,supreme ,king of  
kings1 the ,holy ,one1 blessed be ,he4  
,rabbi ,chanania1 the son of ,akashia1  
said1 ,the ,holy ,one1 blessed be ,he1  
was pleased to make ,israel worthy2     
wherefore ,he gave them a copious ,torah
 and many commandments1 as it is said1  
',it pleased the ,lord1 for his         
righteousness' sake1 to magnify the     
,torah and make it honorable'4          
,,chapter ,v  ,all ,israel have a       

portion in the world to come1 and it is 
said1 ,and thy people shall be all      
righteous2 they shall inherit the land  
for ever1 the branch of my planting1 the
 work of my hands1 that ,i may be       
glorified4  #a4 ,with ten sayings the   
world was created4  ,what does this     
teach us8 ,could it not have been       
created with one saying8  ,it is to make
 known the punishment that will befall  
the wicked who destroy the world that   
was created with ten sayings1 as well as
 the goodly reward that will be bestowed
 upon the just who preserve the world   
that was created with ten sayings4  #b4 
,there were ten generations from ,adam  
to ,noah1 to make known how             
long-suffering ,god is1 seeing that all 
those generations continued provoking   
him1 until he brought upon them the     
waters of the flood4  #c4 ,there were   
ten generations from ,noah to ,abraham1 
to make known how long-suffering ,god   
is1 seeing that all those generations   
continued provoking him1 until ,abraham1

 our father1 came1 and received the     
reward they should all have earned4  #d4
 ,with ten trials our father ,abraham   
was tried1 and he stood firm in them    
all1 to make known how great was the    
love of our father ,abraham4  #e4 ,ten  
miracles were wrought for our fathers in
 ,egypt1 and ten at the ,sea4  #f4 ,ten 
plagues did the ,holy ,one1 blessed be  
,he1 bring upon the ,egyptians in       
,egypt1 and ten at the ,sea4  #g4 ,with 
ten temptations did our fathers tempt   
the ,holy ,one1 blessed be ,he1 in the  
wilderness1 as it is said1 ,and they    
tempted me these ten times1 and have not
 hearkened to my voice4  #h4 ,ten       
miracles were wrought for our fathers in
 the ,temple2 no woman miscarried from  
the scent of the holy flesh2 the holy   
flesh never became putrid2 no fly was   
seen in the slaughter-house2 no unclean 
accident ever befell the high-priest on 
the ,day of ,atonement2 the rain never  
quenched the fire of the wood-pile on   
the altar2 neither did the wind overcome

 the column of smoke that arose         
therefrom2 nor was there ever found any 
disqualifying defect in the omer 7of new
 barley1 offered on the second day of   
,passover7 or in the two loaves 7the    
first fruits of the wheat-harvest1      
offered on ,pentecost71 or in the       
shewbread2 though the people stood      
closely pressed together1 they found    
ample space to prostrate themselves2    
never did serpent or scorpion injure any
 one in ,jerusalem2 nor did any man ever
 say to his fellow1 the place is too    
strait for me to lodge over night in    
,jerusalem4  #i4 ,ten things were       
created on the eve of ,sabbath in the   
twilight3 the mouth of the earth2 the   
mouth of the well2 the mouth of the ass2
 the rainbow2 the manna2 the rod2 the   
shamir2 the shape of written characters2
 the writing1 and the tables of stone3  
some say1 the destroying spirits also1  
and the sepulchre of ,moses1 and the ram
 of ,abraham our father2 and others say1
 tongs1 also1 made with tongs4  #aj4    

,there are seven marks of an uncultured1
 and seven of a wise man4 ,the wise man 
does not speak before him who is greater
 than he in wisdom2 and does not        
interrupt the speech of his companion2  
he is not hasty to answer2 he questions 
according to the subject-matter2 and    
answers to the point2 he speaks upon the
 first thing first1 and upon the last1  
last2 regarding that which he has not   
understood he says1 ,i do not understand
 it2 and he acknowledges the truth4     
,the reverse of all this is to be found 
in an uncultured man4  #aa4 ,seven kinds
 of punishment come into the world for  
seven important transgressions4  ,if    
some give their tithes and others do    
not1 a dearth ensues from drought and   
some suffer hunger while others are     
full4  ,if they all determine to give no
 tithes1 a dearth ensures from tumult   
and drought4  ,if they further resolve  
not to give the dough-cake1 an          
exterminating dearth ensures4           
,pestilence comes into the world to     

fulfil those death penalties threatened 
in the ,torah1 the execution of which1  
however1 is within the function of a    
human tribunal1 and for the violation of
 the law regarding the fruits of the    
seventh year4  ,the sword comes into the
 world for the delay of justice1 and for
 the perversion of justice1 and on      
account of the offence of those who     
interpret the ,torah1 not according to  
its true sense4  ,noxious beasts come   
into the world for vain swearing1 and   
for the profanation of the ,divine      
,name4  ,captivity comes into the world 
on account of idolatry1 immortality1    
bloodshed1 and the neglect of the year  
of rest for the soil4  #ab4 ,at four    
periods pestilence grows apace3 in the  
fourth year1 in the seventh1 at the     
conclusion of the seventh year1 and at  
the conclusion of the ,feast of         
,tabernacles in each year3 in the fourth
 year1 for default of giving the tithe  
to the poor in the third year2 in the   
seventh year1 for default of giving the 

title to the poor in the sixth year2 at 
the conclusion of the seventh year1 for 
the violation of the law regarding the  
fruits of the seventh year1 and at the  
conclusion of the ,feast of ,tabernacles
 in each year1 for robbing the poor of  
the grants legally assigned to them4    
#ac4 ,there are four characters among   
men3 he who says1 ,what is mine is mine 
and what is thine is thine1 his is a    
neutral character2 some say1 ,this is a 
character like that of ,sodom2 he who   
says1 ,what is mine is thine and what is
 thine is mine1 is a boor2 he who says1 
,what is mine is thine and what is thine
 is thine1 is a saint2 he who says1     
,what is thine is mine and what is mine 
is mine1 is a wicked man4  #ad4 ,there  
are four kinds of tempers3 he whom it is
 easy to provoke and easy to pacify1 his
 loss disappears in his gain2 he whom it
 is hard to provoke and hard to pacify1 
his gain disappears in his loss2 he whom
 it is hard to provoke and easy to      
pacify is a saint2 he whom it is easy to

 provoke and hard to pacify is a wicked 
man4  #ae4 ,there are four qualities in 
disciples3 he who quickly understands   
and quickly forgets1 his gain disappears
 in his loss2 he who understands with   
difficulty and forgets with difficulty1 
his loss disappears in his gain2 he who 
understands quickly and forgets with    
difficulty1 his is a good portion2 he   
who understands with difficulty and     
forgets quickly1 his is an evil portion4
  #af4 ,as to almsgiving there are four 
dispositions3 he who desires to give1   
but that others should not give1 his eye
 is evil toward what appertains to      
others2 he who desires that others      
should give1 but will not give himself1 
his eye is evil against what is his own2
 he who gives and wishes others to give 
is a saint2 he who will not give and    
does not wish others to give is a wicked
 man4 #ag4 ,there are four characters   
among those who attend the house of     
study3 he who goes and does not practise
 secures the reward for going2 he who   

practises but does not go secures the   
reward for practising2 he who goes and  
practises is a saint2 he who neither    
goes nor practises is a wicked man4     
#ah4 ,there are four qualities among    
those that sit before the wise3 they are
 like a sponge1 a funnel1 a strainer1 or
 a sieve3 a sponge1 which sucks up      
everything2 a funnel1 which lets in at  
one end and out at the other2 a         
strainer1 which lets the wine pass out  
and retains the dregs2 a sieve1 which   
lets out the bran and retains the fine  
flour4  #ai4 ,whenever love depends upon
 some material cause1 with the passing  
away of that cause1 the love1 too1      
passes away2 but if it be not depending 
upon such a cause1 it will not pass away
 for ever4  ,which love was that which  
depended upon a material cause8  ,such  
was the love of ,ammon and ,tamar4  ,and
 that which depended upon no such cause8
  ,such was the love of ,david and      
,jonathan4  #bj4 ,every controversy that
 is in the ,name of ,heaven shall in the

 end lead to a permanent result1 but    
every controversy that is not in the    
,name of ,heaven shall not lead to a    
permanent result4  ,which controversy   
was that which was in the ,name of      
,heaven8  ,such was the controversy of  
,hillel and ,shammai4  ,and that which  
was not in the ,name of ,heaven8  ,such 
was the controversy of ,korah and all   
his company4  #ba4 ,whosoever causes the
 multitude to be righteous1 over him sin
 prevails not2 but he who causes the    
multitude to sin shall not have the     
means to repent4  ,moses was righteous  
and made the multitude righteous2 the   
righteousness of the multitude was laid 
upon him1 as it is said1 ,he executed   
the justice of the ,lord and his        
judgments with ,israel4  ,jeroboam1 the 
son of ,nebat1 sinned and caused the    
multitude to sin2 the sin of the        
multitude was laid upon him1 as it is   
said1 ,for the sins of ,jeroboam which  
he sinned and which he made ,israel to  
sin4  #bb4 ,whosoever has these three   

attributes is of the disciples of       
,abraham1 our father1 but whosoever has 
three other attributes is of the        
disciples of ,balaam1 the wicked4  ,a   
good eye1 a humble mind1 and a lowly    
spirit 7are the tokens7 of the disciples
 of ,abraham1 our father2 an evil eye1 a
 haughty mind1 and a proud spirit 7are  
the signs7 of the disciples of ,balaam1 
the wicked4  ,what is the difference    
between the disciples of ,abraham1 our  
father1 and those of ,balaam1 the       
wicked8 ,the disciples of ,abraham1 our 
father1 enjoy this world and inherit the
 world to come1 as it is said1 ,that ,i 
may cause those that love me to inherit 
substance1 and may fill all their       
treasuries2 but the disciples of        
,balaam1 the wicked1 inherit ,gehinnom1 
and descend into the pit of destruction1
 as it is said1 ,but thou1 ,o ,god1 wilt
 bring them down into the pit of        
destruction2 bloodthirsty and deceitful 
men shall not live out half their days2 
but ,i will trust in thee4  #bc4 ,judah1

 the son of ,tema1 said1 ,be bold as a  
leopard1 swift as an eagle1 fleet as a  
hart1 and strong as a lion1 to do the   
will of thy ,father who is in ,heaven4  
#bd4 ,he used to say1 ,at five years    
7the age is reached for the study of    
the7 ,scripture1 at ten for 7the study  
of7 the ,mishnah1 at thirteen for 7the  
fulfilment of7 the commandments1 at     
fifteen for 7the study of7 the ,talmud1 
at eighteen for marriage1 at twenty for 
seeking 7a livelihood71 at thirty for   
7entering into one's full7 strength1 at 
forty for understanding1 at fifty for   
counsel1 at sixty 7a man attains7 old   
age1 at seventy the hoary head1 at      
eighty 7the gift of special7 strength1  
at ninety1 7he bends beneath7 the weight
 of years1 at a hundred he is as if he  
were already dead and had passed away   
from the world4  #be4 ,ben ,bag ,bag    
said1 ,turn it1 and turn it over again1 
for everything is in it1 and contemplate
 it1 and wax grey and old over it1 and  
stir not from it1 for thou canst have no

 better rule than this4  #bf4 ,ben ,he  
,he said1 ,according to the labor is the
 reward4  ,rabbi ,chanania1 the son of  
,akashia1 said1 ,the ,holy ,one1 blessed
 be ,he1 was pleased to make ,israel    
worthy2 wherefore ,he gave them a       
copious ,torah and many commandments1 as
 it is said1 ',it pleased the ,lord1 for
 his righteousness' sake1 to magnify the
 ,torah and make it honorable'4         
,,chapter ,,vi  ,,the ,,acquisition ,,of
 ,,the ,,torah  ,all ,israel have a     
portion in the world to come1 and it is 
said1 ,and thy people shall be all      
righteous2 they shall inherit the land  
for ever1 the branch of my planting1 the
 work of my hands1 that ,i may be       
glorified4  ,the sages taught 7the      
following7 in the language of the       
,mishnah--blessed be ,he that made      
choice of them and their ,mishnah4  #a4 
,r4 ,meir said1 ,whosoever labors in the
 ,torah for its own sake merits many    
things2 and not only so1 but the whole  
world is indebted to him3 he is called  

friend1 beloved1 a lover of the         
,all-present1 a lover of mankind3 it    
clothes him with meekness and reverence2
 it fits him to become just1 pious1     
upright1 and faithful2 it keeps him far 
from sin1 and brings him near to virtue2
 through him are enjoyed counsel and    
sound knowledge1 understanding and      
strength1 as it is said1 ',counsel is   
mind1 and sound knowledge2 ,i am        
understanding2 ,i have strength4'  ,it  
gives him sovereignty and dominion and  
discerning judgment2 to him the secrets 
of the ,torah are revealed2 he is made  
like a never-failing spring and like a  
river that flows on with ever-increasing
 vigor2 he becomes modest1              
long-suffering1 and forgiving of        
insults2 and it magnifies and exalts him
 above all things4  #b4 ,r4 ,joshua1 the
 son of ,levi1 said1 ,every day a       
bat-kol goes forth from ,mount ,horeb1  
proclaiming and saying1 ',woe to mankind
 for contempt of the ,torah1 for whoever
 does not occupy himself in the ,torah  

is said to be under the divine censure1 
as it is said1 ',as a ring of gold in a 
swine's snout1 so is a fair woman who   
turneth aside from discretion'2 and it  
says1 ',and the tables were the work of 
,god1 and the writing was the writing of
 ,god1 graven upon the tables4'  ,read  
not charut1 but cherut1 for no man is   
free but he who occupies himself in the 
learning of ,torah4  ,but whosoever     
labors in the torah1 behold he shall be 
exalted1 as it is said1 ',and from      
,mattanah to ,nachaliel1 and from       
,nachaliel to ,bamot4'  #c4 ,he who     
learns from his companion a single      
chapter1 a single rule1 a single verse1 
a single expression1 or even a single   
letter1 ought to pay him honor1 for so  
we find with ,david1 ,king of ,israel1  
who learned only two things from        
,ahitophel1 and yet regarded him as his 
master1 his guide1 and familiar friend1 
as it is said1 ,but it was thou1 a man1 
mine equal1 my guide1 and my familiar   
friend4  ,now1 is it not an argument    

from minor to major1 that if ,david1 the
 ,king of ,israel1 who learned only two 
things from ,ahitophel1 regarded him as 
his master1 guide1 and familiar friend1 
he who learns from his fellow a chapter1
 rule1 verse1 expression1 or even a     
single letter1 is bound to pay him      
honor4  ,and honor is nothing but       
,torah1 as it is said1 ,the wise shall  
inherit honor and the perfect shall     
inherit good4  ,and good is nothing but 
,torah1 as it is said1 ,for ,i give you 
good doctrine1 forsake ye not my ,torah4
  #d4 ,this is the way that is becoming 
for the study of the ,torah3 a morsel of
 bread with salt thou must eat1 and     
water by measure thou must drink1 thou  
must sleep upon the ground1 and live a  
life of trouble the while thou toilest  
in the ,torah4  ,if thou doest thus1    
,happy shalt thou be1 and it shall be   
well with thee1 happy shalt thou be in  
this world1 and it shall be well with   
thee in the world to come4  #e4 ,seek   
not greatness for thyself1 and court not

 honor2 let thy works exceed thy        
learning2 and crave not after the table 
of kings2 for thy table is greater than 
theirs1 and thy crown is greater than   
theirs1 and thy ,employer is faithful to
 pay thee the reward of thy work4  #f4  
,the ,torah is greater than the         
priesthood and than royalty1 for royalty
 demands thirty qualifications1 the     
priesthood twenty-four1 while the ,torah
 is acquired by forty-eight4  ,and these
 are they3 by audible study2 by a       
listening ear2 by distinct              
pronunciation2 by understanding and     
discernment of the heart2 by awe1       
reverence1 meekness1 cheerfulness2 by   
ministering to the sages1 by attaching  
one's self to colleagues1 by discussion 
with disciples2 by sedateness2 by       
knowledge of the ,scripture and of the  
,mishnah2 by moderation in business1 in 
intercourse with the world1 in pleasure1
 in sleep1 in conversation1 in laughter2
 by long suffering2 by a good heart2 by 
faith in the wise2 by resignation under 

chastisement2 by recognizing one's      
place1 rejoicing in one's portion1      
putting a fence to one's words1 claiming
 no merit for one's self1 by being      
beloved1 loving the ,all-present1 loving
 mankind1 loving just courses1          
rectitude1 and reproof2 by keeping one's
 self far from honor1 not boasting of   
one's learning1 nor delighting in giving
 decisions2 by bearing the yoke with    
one's fellow1 judging him favorably1 and
 leading him to truth and peace2 by     
being composed in one's study2 by asking
 and answering1 hearing and adding      
thereto2 by learning with the object of 
teaching1 and by learning with the      
object of practising2 by making one's   
master wise1 fixing attention upon his  
discourse1 and reporting a thing in the 
name of who said it4  ,so thou hast     
learned1 ,whosoever reports a thing in  
the name of him that said it brings     
deliverance into the world1 as it is    
said1 ,and ,esther told the king in the 
name of ,mordecai4  #g4 ,great is the   

,torah1 which gives life to those that  
practise it in this world and in the    
world to come1 as it is said1 ,for they 
are life unto those that find them1 and 
health to all their flesh2 and it says1 
,it shall be health to thy navel1 and   
marrow to thy bones2 and it says1 ,it is
 a tree of life to them that grasp it1  
and of them that uphold it every one is 
rendered happy2 and it says1 ,for they  
shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy    
head1 and chains about thy neck2 and it 
says1 ,it shall give to thine head a    
chaplet of grace1 a crown of glory it   
shall deliver to thee2 and it says1 ,for
 by me thy days shall be multiplied1 and
 the years of thy life shall be         
increased2 and it says1 ,length of days 
is in its right hand2 in its left hand  
are riches and honor2 and it says1 ,for 
length of days1 and years of life1 and  
peace shall they add to thee4  #h4 ,r4  
,simeon1 the son of ,judah1 in the name 
of ,r4 ,simeon1 the son of ,yohai1 said1
 ,beauty1 strength1 riches1 honor1      

wisdom1 old age1 a hoary head1 and      
children are comely to the righteous and
 comely to the world1 as it is said1    
',the hoary head is a crown of glory1 if
 it be found in the way of              
righteousness'2 and it says1 ',the glory
 of young men is their strength1 and the
 adornment of old men is the hoary      
head'2 and it says1 ',a crown unto the  
wise is their riches'2 and it says1     
',children's children are the crown of  
old men1 and the adornment of children  
are their fathers'2 and it is said1     
',then the moon shall be confounded and 
the sun ashamed2 for the ,lord of hosts 
shall reign in ,mount ,zion and in      
,jerusalem1 and before his elders shall 
be glory4'  ,r4 ,simeon1 the son of     
,menasya1 said1 ,these seven            
qualifications which the sages          
enumerated as becoming to the righteous 
were all realized in ,rabbi ,judah1 the 
,prince1 and in his sons4  #i4 ,r4      
,jose1 the son of ,kisma1 said1 ,i was  
once walking by the way1 when a man met 

me and saluted me1 and ,i returned the  
salutation4  ,he said to me1 ',rabbi1   
from what place art thou8'  ,i said to  
him1 ',i come from a great city of sages
 and scribes4'  ,he said to me1 ',if    
thou art willing to dwell with us in our
 place1 ,i will give thee a thousand    
thousand golden dinars and precious     
stones and pearls4'  ,i said to him1    
',wert thou to give me all the silver   
and gold and precious stones and pearls 
in the world1 ,i would not dwell        
anywhere but in a home of the ,torah'2  
and thus it is written in the book of   
,psalms by the hands of ,david1 ,king of
 ,israel1 ',the law of thy mouth is     
better unto me than thousands of gold   
and silver'2 and not only so1 but in the
 hour of man's departure neither silver 
nor gold nor precious stones nor pearls 
accompany him1 but only ,torah and good 
works1 as it is said1 ',when thou       
walkest it shall lead thee2 when thou   
liest down it shall watch over thee2 and
 when thou awakest it shall talk with   

thee'2 'when thou walkest it shall lead 
thee'--in this world2 and 'when thou    
awakest it shall talk with thee'--in the
 world to come4  ,and it says1 ',the    
silver is mine1 and the gold is mine1   
saith the ,lord of hosts4'  #aj4 ,five  
possessions the ,holy ,one1 blessed be  
,he1 made especially ,his own in ,his   
world1 and these are they1 the ,torah1  
heaven and earth1 ,abraham1 ,israel1 and
 the house of the sanctuary4  ,whence   
know we this of the ,torah8  ,because it
 is written1 ,the ,lord possessed me as 
the beginning of his way1 before his    
works1 from of old4  ,whence of heaven  
and earth8  ,because it is written1     
,thus saith the ,lord1 the heaven is my 
throne1 and the earth is my footstool3  
what manner of house will ye build unto 
me8 and what manner of place for my     
rest82 and it says1 ,how manifold are   
thy works1 ,o ,lord6  ,in wisdom hast   
thou made them all3 the earth is full of
 thy possessions4  ,whence of ,abraham8 
,because it is written1 ,and he blessed 

him1 and said1 ',blessed be ,abram of   
the ,most ,high ,god1 possessor of      
heaven and earth4  ,whence of ,israel8  
,because it is written1 ,till thy people
 pass over1 ,o ,lord1 till the people   
pass over which thou hast acquired2 and 
it says1 ,as for the saints that are in 
the earth1 they are the noble ones in   
whom is all my delight4  ,whence of the 
house of the sanctuary8  ,because it is 
written1 ,the place1 ,o ,lord1 which    
thou hast made for ,thee to dwell in1   
the sanctuary1 ,o ,lord1 which ,thy     
hands have prepared2 and it says1 ,and  
he brought them to the border of his    
sanctuary1 to this mountain which his   
right hand had acquired4  #aa4          
,whatsoever the ,holy ,one1 blessed be  
,he1 created in ,his world ,he created  
but for ,his glory1 as it is said1      
,everything that is called by my name1  
it is for my glory ,i have created it1  
,i have formed it1 yea1 ,i have made it2
 and it says1 ,the ,lord shall reign for
 ever and ever4  ,rabbi ,chanania1 the  

son of ,akashia1 said1 ,the ,holy ,one1 
blessed be ,he1 was pleased to make     
,israel worthy2 wherefore ,he gave them 
a copious ,torah and many commandments1 
as it is said1 ',it pleased the ,lord1  
for his righteousness' sake1 to magnify 
the ,torah and make it honorable'4      
,,transcriber',s ,,notes  ,,chapters    
,,ii through ,,vi3  ,the source text    
included the following lines3           
,all ,israel1 etc41 p4 #bi and          
,rabbi ,chanania1 etc41 p4 #ch4  as the 
first and last line of each chapter1 the
 page numbers referring to the beginning
 and ending of ,chapter ,i4  ,rather    
than reference these two sentences in   
this manner1 this text version copies   
the two sentences to their intended     
locations4  ,the transcriber believes   
this better captures the intent and     
functionality of the text4    ,chapter  
,,iii3  ,r4 ,meir      umlaut over the  
i1 wherever this name appears           
,,chapter ,,iv3  happy art thou in this 
world1 and      in the source text1 the 

comma after 'worls' was a period4  ,this
      was corrected for this electronic 
text4    ,,chapter ,v3  tables of stone 
are as written in the source text as a  
translation of the ,hebrew      luchot2 
modern readers may better recognize the 
phrase 'tablets      of stone'4