PIRKEI AVOS Treasury

CHAPTER I

All Israel has a share in the world to come, as it said: "and your people are all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever; they are the branch of My planting, My handiwork, in which to take pride."

{1:1} Moses received the Torah from [G-D Who revealed Himself at Mount] Sinai and conveyed it to Joshua; Joshua [conveyed it] to the Elders; the Elders [conveyed it] to the Prophets; and the Prophets [conveyed it] to the Men of the Great Assembly. They said three things: Be deliberate in judgment; develop many disciples; and make a [protective] a fence for the Torah.

{1:2} Shimon the Righteous was [one] of the remnants of the Great Assembly. He used to say: The world stands on three things --on the Torah, on the service {to G-D], and upon acts of loving kindness.

{1:3} Antigonos, leader of Socho received the tradition from Shimon the Righteous. He used to say: be not be like servants who serve the master for the sake of receiving [even a token] a reward, but rather, be like servants who serve the master not for the sake of receiving [a token] reward; [nonetheless] the fear of Heaven should be upon you."

{1:4} Yose ben Yoezer leader of Tz'redah, and Yose ben Yochanan, leader of Jerusalem received the tradition from them. Yose ben Yoezer leader of Tz'redah, says; Let your house be a meeting place for Torah scholars; you shall become dusty in the dust of their feet; and you shall drink in their words thirstily.

{1:5} Yose ben Yochanan, leader of Jerusalem, says; Let your house be open wide; treat the poor as members of your household; and do not talk too much with the women. They said this even about one's own wife, surely it applies to another's wife. Consequently, Sages said: Anyone who converses excessively with a woman causes evil to himself, neglects Torah study, and will eventually inherit Gehinnom.

{1:6} Joshua ben Perachyah and Nittai of Arbel received the tradition from them. Joshua ben Perachyah says: Appoint a teacher for yourself; acquire a friend for yourself; and judge everyone favorably.

{1:7} Nittai of Arbel says: Distance yourself from a bad neighbor; do not associate with wicked person; and don't do not despair of retribution."

{1:8} Yehudah ben Tabbai and Shimon ben Shatach received the tradition from them. Yehudah ben Tabbai says: [When serving as a judge,] do not act as a lawyer; while the litigants stand before you, consider them both as guilty; but when they are dismissed from you, consider them both as innocent, provided they have accepted the judgement.

{1:9} Shimon ben Shatach, says: Interrogate the witnesses extensively: yet be cautious with your words, lest they learn from them to lie.

{1:10} Shemayah and Avtalyon received the tradition from them. Shemayah says: Love work; despise positions of power; and do not become overly familiar with the government

{1:11} Avtalyon says: Scholars, be cautious with your words, for you may incur the penalty of exile to a place of evil waters [heresy]. The disciples who follow you there may drink and die, and consequently the Name of Heaven may be desecrated.

{1:12} Hillel and Shammai received the tradition from them. Hillel says: Be among the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving people and drawing them closer to the Torah."

{1:13} He used to say [in Aramaic], He who seeks renown loses his reputation; he who does not increase [his Torah learning] decreases it; he who refuses to teach [Torah] deserves death; and he who exploits the crown [of Torah] shall fade away."

{1:14} He used to say, If I am not for myself who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?

{1:15} Shammai says: Make your Torah [study] a fixed practice; say little and do much; receive everyone with a cheerful face.

{1:16} Rabban Gamaliel used to say: Appoint a teacher for yourself, and remove yourself from uncertainty; and do not give excess tithes by estimating [instead of measuring].

{1:17} Shimon his son says: All my days I have been raised among the Sages, and I found nothing better for oneself than silence; not study, but practice is the main thing; and one who talks excessively brings on sin.

{1:18} Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel says: "The world endures on three things -- justice, truth, and peace, as it is said, You shall adjudicate the verdict of truth and peace at your gates (Zech. 8:16)."

Rabbi Chanania ben Akashia says: The Holy One, Blessed is He, wished to confer merit upon Israel; therefore He gave them Torah and mitzvos in abundance, as it is said "Hashem desired, for the sake of its (Israel's) rightousness, that the Torah be made great and glorious"