14. He also said, “if I perform not good works myself, who can do them for me?” and “when I consider myself, what am I?” and “if not now, when shall I?”
15. Shammai said, “let thy study of the law be fixed, say little and do much, and receive all men with an open, pleasant face.”
16. Rabban Gamaliel said, “procure thyself an instructor, that thou mayest not be in doubt, and accustom not thyself to give tithes by conjecture.”
17. Simon, his son, said, “I have all my life been brought up among wise men, and never found anything so good for the body as silence, neither is the study of the law the principal thing, but its practice,” and “whoever multiplies words causes sin.”
18. Rabban Simon, son of Gamaliel, said the duration of the world depends on three things, justice, truth, and peace, as is said, “judge truth, and justice, and peace in your gates.”
Chapter II
1. Rabbi Judah said, “which are the most eligible paths for man to choose? All such as are an ornament to those who tread therein; and get them honor from man. Be also as careful of the observance of a light precept, as of a weighty one; because thou knowest not the due reward of the precepts, and balance the loss sustained by the omission of a precept against its recompense, and the reward of sin against its loss of happiness. Consider also three things, and thou wilt not transgress. Understand what is above thee: an All-seeing Eye and a Hearing Ear; and that all thy actions are written in a Book.”
2. Rabban Gamaliel, the son of Rabban Judah the Prince, said, “that the study of the law and intercourse with the world are commendable together, as the joining of these two annihilates sin; and all the study of the law, that is not supported by business, will become of none effect, and will be the cause of sin; and whoever is engaged in the service of the congregation, ought to act for God's sake, then will the merit of their ancestors support them, and their charitable deeds exist to eternity; and I (God) shall account you deserving of a great recompense, as if ye had actually done it.”
3. “Be ye warned of following princes, as they only bestow favors on men for their own interest. They show themselves [pg 202] as friends while men are useful to them; but they will not support a man in time of need.”