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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Pirke Avot, by Traditional Text
+#2 in our series by Traditional Text
+
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+
+Title: Pirke Avot
+       Sayings Of The Jewish Fathers
+
+Author: Traditional Text
+
+Release Date: July, 2005 [EBook #8548]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on July 22, 2003]
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIRKE AVOT ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Dan Dyckman
+
+
+
+
+________________________
+  TRANSCRIBER'S COMMENTS
+
+The source book for this e-text included an Introduction, Preface,
+and extensive footnotes.  These are omitted in this text, which
+consists of only the translation of the Pirkei Avot.  A full version
+of this e-text may be found as a different entry in the Gutenburg
+Project archives.
+
+See the end of this e-text for Transcriber's Notes.
+
+
+
+
+
+     LIBRARY OF JEWISH CLASSICS-III.
+ ________________________________________
+
+           The Sayings of the
+             Jewish Fathers
+
+             [pirkei avot]
+              "PIRKE ABOT"
+ ________________________________________
+
+           Translated, with an
+         Introduction and Notes
+
+                  BY
+       JOSEPH I. GORFINKLE, Ph.D.
+
+               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 Year._
+
+All Israel have a portion in the world to come, and it is said, "And
+thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for
+ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be
+glorified."
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+1. Moses received the _Torah_ from Sinai, and handed it down to
+Joshua, and Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the prophets, and
+the prophets delivered it to the men of the Great Synagogue.  They
+said three things, "Be deliberate in judgment; raise up many
+disciples; and make a fence about the _Torah_."
+
+2. Simon, the Just, was of the last survivors of the Great Synagogue.
+He used to say, "Upon three things the world rests: upon the _Torah_,
+upon the Temple service, and upon the doing of acts of kindness."
+
+3. Antigonus of Soko received (the tradition) from Simon, the Just.
+He used to say, "Be not like hirelings who work for their master for
+the sake of receiving recompense; but be like servants who minister to
+their master without any thought of receiving a reward; and let the
+fear of Heaven be upon you."
+
+4. Jose, the son of Joezer, of Zeredah, and Jose, the son of Jochanan,
+of Jerusalem received (the tradition) from them.  Jose, the son of
+Joezer, of Zeredah said, "Let thy house be a meeting-place for the
+wise; cover thyself with the dust of their feet, and drink in their
+words with thirst."
+
+5. Jose, the son of Jochanan, of Jerusalem said, "Let thy house be
+open wide; let the poor be members of thy household, and engage not in
+much gossip with woman."  This applies to one's own wife; how much
+more, then, to the wife of one's neighbor?  Hence the sages say,
+"Whoso engages in much gossip with woman brings evil upon himself,
+neglects the study of the _Torah_, and will in the end inherit
+_gehinnom_."
+
+6. Joshua, the son of Perachyah, and Nittai, the Arbelite, received
+(the tradition) from them.  Joshua, the son of Perachyah, said,
+"Provide thyself with a teacher, and possess thyself of a companion;
+and judge every man in the scale of merit."
+
+7. Nittai, the Arbelite, said, "Keep aloof from a bad neighbor;
+associate not with the wicked, and abandon not the belief in
+retribution."
+
+8. Judah, the son of Tabbi, and Simeon, the son of Shatach, received
+(the tradition) from them.  Judah, the son of Tabbi, said, "(In the
+judge's office) act not the counsel's part; while the litigants are
+standing before thee, let them be regarded by thee as guilty, but when
+they are departed from thy presence, regard them as innocent, the
+verdict having been acquiesced in by them."
+
+9. Simeon, the son of Shatach, said, "Be very searching in the
+examination of witnesses, and be guarded in thy words, lest through
+them they learn to lie."
+
+10. Shemaiah and Abtalion received (the tradition) from them.
+Shemaiah said, "Love work; hate lordship; and seek no intimacy with
+the ruling power."
+
+11. Abtalion said, "Ye sages, be heedful of your words, lest ye incur
+the penalty of exile and be exiled to a place of evil waters, and the
+disciples who come after you drink thereof and die, and the Heavenly
+Name be profaned."
+
+12. Hillel and Shammai received (the tradition) from them.  Hillel
+said, "Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace,
+loving mankind and drawing them night to the _Torah_."  13. He used to
+say, "A name made great is a name destroyed; he who does not increase
+(his knowledge) decreases (it); and he who does not study deserves to
+die; and he who makes a worldly use of the crown (of the _Torah_)
+shall waste away."  14. He used to say, "If I am not for myself, who
+will be for me?  But if I care for myself only, what am I?  And if not
+now, when?"
+
+15. Shammai said, "Set a fixed time for thy (study of) _Torah;_ say
+little and do much; and receive all men with a cheerful countenance."
+
+16. Rabban Gamaliel said, "Provide thyself with a teacher; be quit of
+doubt; and accustom not thyself to give tithes by a conjectural
+estimate."
+
+17. Simeon his son, said, "All my days I have grown up amongst the
+wise, and I have found nothing better for man than silence; not
+learning but doing is the chief thing; and whoso multiplies words
+causes sin."
+
+18. Rabban Simeon, the son of Gamaliel said, "By three things is the
+world preserved; by truth, by judgment, and by peace, as it is said,
+'Judge ye the truth and the judgment of peace in your gates.'"
+
+Rabbi Chanania, the son of Akashia, said, "The Holy One, blessed be
+He, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore He gave them a
+copious _Torah_ and many commandments, as it is said, 'It pleased the
+Lord, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify the _Torah_ and make it
+honorable.'"
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+All Israel have a portion in the world to come, and it is said, "And
+thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for
+ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be
+glorified".
+
+1. Rabbi said, "which is the right course that a man should choose for
+himself?  That which is a pride to him who pursues it and which also
+brings him honor from mankind.  Be as scrupulous about a light precept
+as about a grave one, for thou knowest not the grant of reward for
+each precept.  Reckon the loss incurred by the fulfilment of a precept
+against the reward secured by its observance, and the gain gotten by a
+transgression against the loss it involves.  Consider three things,
+that thou mayest not come within the power of sin.  Know what is above
+thee--a seeing eye, and a hearing ear, and all thy deeds written in a
+book."
+
+2. Rabban Gamaliel, the son of Rabbi Judah, the Prince, said,
+"Excellent is the study of _Torah_ combined with some worldly pursuit,
+for the effort demanded by them both makes sin to be forgotten.  All
+study of _Torah_ without work must at length be futile, and leads to
+sin.  Let all who are employed with the congregation act with them for
+Heaven's sake, for then the merit of their fathers sustains them, and
+their righteousness endures for ever.  And as for you (God will then
+say), 'I account you worthy of great reward, as if you had wrought it
+all yourselves.'  3. Be on your guard against the ruling power; for
+they who exercise it draw no man near to them except for their own
+interests; appearing as friends when it is to their own advantage,
+they stand not by a man in the hour of his need."  4. He used to say,
+"Do His will as if it were thy will.  Nullify thy will before His
+will, that He may nullify the will of others before thy will."
+
+5. Hillel said, "Separate not thyself from the congregation; trust not
+in thyself until the day of thy death; judge not thy neighbor until
+thou art come into his place; and say not anything which cannot be
+understood at once, in the hope that it will be understood in the end;
+neither say, 'When I have leisure I will study'; perchance thou wilt
+have no leisure."  6. He used to say, "An empty-headed man cannot be a
+sin-fearing man, nor can an ignorant person be pious, nor can a
+shamefaced man learn, nor a passionate man teach, nor can one who is
+engaged overmuch in business grow wise.  In a place where there are no
+men, strive to be a man."  7. Moreover, he once saw a skull floating
+on the surface of the water.  He said to it, "Because thou didst drown
+(others) they have drowned thee, and at the last they that drowned
+thee shall themselves be drowned."  8. He used to say, "The more
+flesh, the more works; the more property, the more anxiety; the more
+women, the more witchcraft; the more maid-servants, the more lewdness;
+the more men-servants, the more robbery; the more _Torah_, the more
+life; the more schooling, the more wisdom; the more counsel, the more
+understanding; the more charity, the more peace.  He who has acquired
+a good name has acquired it for himself; he who has acquired for
+himself words of _Torah_ has acquired for himself life in the world to
+come."
+
+9. Rabban Jochanan, the son of Zakkai received (the tradition) from
+Hillel and Shammai.  He used to say, "If thou hast learnt much
+_Torah_, ascribe not any merit to thyself, for thereunto wast thou
+created."
+
+10. Rabban Jochanan, the son of Zakkai, had five disciples, and these
+are they: Rabbi Eliezer, the son of Hyrcanus; Rabbi Joshua, the son of
+Hananiah; Rabbi Jose, the Priest; Rabbi Simeon, the son of Nataniel;
+and Rabbi Eleazar, the son of Arach.  11. He used thus to recount
+their praise: "Eliezer, the son of Hyrcanus, is a cemented cistern,
+which loses not a drop; Joshua, the son of Hananiah, happy is she that
+bare him; Jose, the Priest, is a pious man; Simeon, the son of
+Nataniel, is a fearer of sin; Eleazar, the son of Arach, is like a
+spring flowing with ever-sustained vigor."  12. He used to say, "If
+all the sages of Israel were in one scale of the balance, and Eliezer,
+the son of Hyrcanus, in the other, he would outweigh them all."  Abba
+Saul said in his name, "If all the sages of Israel were in one scale
+of the balance, and Eliezer, the son of Hyrcanus, also with them, and
+Eleazar, the son of Arach, in the other scale, he would outweigh them
+all."  13. He said to them, "Go forth and see which is the good way to
+which a man should cleave."  R. Eliezer said, "A good eye"; R. Joshua
+said, "A good friend"; R. Jose said, "A good neighbor"; R. Simeon
+said, "One who foresees the fruit of an action"; R. Eleazar said, "A
+good heart."  Thereupon he said to them, "I approve of the words of
+Eleazar, the son of Arach, rather than your words, for in his words
+yours are included."  14. He said to them, "Go forth and see which is
+the evil way that a man should shun."  R. Eliezer said, "An evil eye";
+R. Joshua said, "A bad friend"; R. Jose said, "A bad neighbor"; R.
+Simeon said, "One who borrows and does not repay--it is the same
+whether one borrows from man or the Omnipresent; as it is said, 'The
+wicked borroweth and payeth not again, but the righteous dealeth
+graciously and giveth'"; R. Eleazar said, "A bad heart."  Thereupon he
+said to them, "I approve of the words of Eleazar, the son of Arach,
+rather then your words, for in his words yours are included."
+
+15. They each said three things.  R. Eliezer said, "Let thy friend's
+honor be as dear to thee as thine own; be not easily excited to anger;
+and repent one day before thy death."  And (he further said), "Warm
+thyself by the fire of the wise, but beware of their glowing coals,
+lest thou be burnt, for their bite is the bite of the fox, and their
+sting is the scorpion's sting, and their hiss is the serpent's hiss,
+and all their words are like coals of fire."  16. R. Joshua said, "The
+evil eye, the evil inclination, and hatred of his fellow-creatures,
+put a man out of the world."  17. R. Jose said, "Let the property of
+thy friend be as dear to thee as thine own; prepare thyself for the
+study of _Torah_, since the knowledge of it is not an inheritance of
+thine, and let all thy deeds be done in the name of God."  18. R.
+Simeon said, "Be careful in reading the _Shema_ and the _Amidah_; and
+when thou prayest, consider not thy prayer as a fixed (mechanical)
+task, but as (an appeal for) mercy and grace before the All-present,
+as it is said, 'For he is gracious and full of mercy, slow to anger,
+and abounding in loving-kindness, and repenteth him of the evil'; and
+be not wicked in thine own esteem."  19. R. Eleazar said, "Be diligent
+in studying _Torah_, and know what answer to give to the unbeliever;
+know also before whom thou toilest, and who thy Employer is, who will
+pay thee the reward of thy labor."
+
+20. Rabbi Tafron said, "The day is short, the task is great, the
+laborers are sluggish, the reward is much, and the Master of the house
+is urgent."  21. He also used to say, "It is not thy duty to complete
+the work, but neither art thou free to desist from it; if thou hast
+studied much _Torah_, much reward will be given thee; and faithful is
+thy Employer to pay thee the reward of thy labor; and know that the
+grant of reward unto the righteous will be in the time to come."
+
+Rabbi Chanania, the son of Akashia, said, "The Holy One, blessed be
+He, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore He gave them a
+copious _Torah_ and many commandments, as it is said, 'It pleased the
+Lord, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify the _Torah_ and make it
+honorable'".
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+All Israel have a portion in the world to come, and it is said, "And
+thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for
+ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be
+glorified".
+
+1. Akabia, the son of Mahalalel, said, "Consider three things, and
+thou wilt not come within the power of sin: know whence thou camest,
+and whither thou art going, and before whom thou wilt in the future
+have to give an account and reckoning.  Whence thou camest: from a
+fetid drop; whether thou art going: to a place of dust, worms, and
+maggots; and before whom thou wilt in the future have to give an
+account and reckoning: before the Supreme King of kings, the Holy One,
+blessed be He."
+
+2. R. Chanina, the Vice-High-Priest, said, "Pray for the welfare of
+the government, since but for the fear thereof men would swallow each
+other alive."
+
+3. R. Chananiah, the son of Teradion, said, "If two sit together and
+interchange no words of _Torah_, they are a meeting of scorners,
+concerning whom it is said, 'The godly man sitteth not in the seat of
+the scorners'; but if two sit together and interchange words of
+_Torah_, the Divine Presence abides among them; as it is said, 'Then
+they that feared the Lord spake one with the other; and the Lord
+hearkened and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him,
+for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name.'  Now
+the Scripture enables me to draw this inference in respect to two
+persons; whence can it be deduced that if even one person sedulously
+occupies himself with the _Torah_, the Holy One, blessed be He,
+appoints unto him a reward?  Because it is said, 'though he sit alone,
+and meditate in stillness, yet he taketh it (the reward) upon him.'"
+
+4. R. Simeon said, "If three have eaten at a table and have spoken
+there no words of _Torah_, it is as if they had eaten of sacrifices to
+dead idols, of whom it is said, 'For all their tables are full of
+vomit and filthiness; the All-present is not (in their thoughts).'
+But if three have eaten at a table and have spoken there words of
+_Torah_, it is as if they had eaten at the table of the All-present,
+for Scripture says, 'And he said unto me, This is the table that is
+before the Lord.'"
+
+5. R. Chanina, the son of Hakinai, said, "He who keeps awake at night,
+and goes on his way alone, while turning his heart to vanity, such a
+one forfeits his own life."
+
+6. R. Nechunya, son of ha-Kanah, said, "Whoso receives upon himself
+the yoke of the _Torah_, from the yoke of the kingdom and the yoke of
+worldly care will be removed, but whoso breaks off from him the yoke
+of the _Torah_, upon him will be laid the yoke of the kingdom and the
+yoke of worldly care."
+
+7. R. Chalafta, the son of Dosa, of the village of Chanania said,
+"When ten people sit together and occupy themselves with the _Torah_,
+the _Shechinah_ abides among them, as it is said, 'God standeth in the
+congregation of the godly.'  And whence can it be shown that the same
+applies to five?  Because it is said, 'He hath found his band upon the
+earth.'  And whence can it be shown that the same applies to three?
+Because it is said, 'He judgeth among the judges.'  And whence can it
+be shown that the same applies to two?  Because it is said, 'Then they
+that feared the Lord spake one with the other; and the Lord hearkened,
+and heard.'  And whence can it be shown that the same applies even to
+one?  Because it is said, 'In every place where I cause my name to be
+remembered I will come unto thee and I will bless thee.'"
+
+8. R. Eleazar of Bertota said, "Give unto Him of what is His, for thou
+and thine are His: this is also found expressed by David, who said,
+'For all things come of Thee, and of Thine own we have given Thee.'"
+
+9. R. Jacob said, "He who is walking by the way and studying, and
+breaks off his study and says, 'How fine is that tree, how fine is
+that fallow,' him the Scripture regards as if he had forfeited his
+life."
+
+10. R. Dostai, the son of Jannai, said in the name of R. Meir, "Whoso
+forgets one word of his study, him the Scripture regards as if he had
+forfeited his life, for it is said, 'Only take heed to thyself, and
+keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes
+have seen.'  Now, one might suppose (that the same result follows)
+even if a man's study has been too hard for him.  (To guard against
+such an inference), it is said, 'And lest they depart from thy heart
+all the days of thy life.'  Thus a person's guilt is not established
+until he deliberately and of set purpose removes those lessons from
+his heart."
+
+11. R. Chanina, the son of Dosa, said, "He in whom the fear of sin
+precedes wisdom, his wisdom shall endure; but he in whom wisdom comes
+before the fear of sin, his wisdom will not endure."  12. He used to
+say, "He whose works exceed his wisdom, his wisdom shall endure; but
+he whose wisdom exceeds his works, his wisdom will not endure."  13.
+He used to say, "He in whom the spirit of his fellow-creatures takes
+not delight, in him the Spirit of the All-present takes not delight."
+
+14. R. Dosa, the son of Horkinas, said, "Morning sleep, midday wine,
+childish babbling, and attending the houses of assembly of the
+ignorant waste a man's life."
+
+15. R. Eleazar ha-Mudai said, "He who profanes things sacred, and
+despises the festivals, and puts his fellow-man to shame in public,
+and makes void the covenant of Abraham, our father, and makes the
+_Torah_ bear a meaning other than the right; (such a one) even though
+knowledge of the _Torah_ and good deeds be his, has no share in the
+world to come."
+
+16. R. Ishmael said, "Be submissive to a superior, affable to the
+young, and receive all men with cheerfulness."
+
+17. R. Akiba said, "Jesting and levity lead a man on to lewdness.  The
+_Massorah_ is a rampart around the _Torah_; tithes are a safeguard to
+riches; good resolves are a fence to abstinence; a hedge around wisdom
+is silence."  18. He used to say, "Beloved is man, for he was created
+in the image (of God); but it was by a special love that it was made
+known to him that he was created in the image of God, as it is said,
+'For in the image of God made he man.'  Beloved are Israel, or they
+were called children of the All-present, but it was by a special love
+that it was made known to them that they were called children of the
+All-present, as it is said, 'Ye are children unto the Lord your God.'
+Beloved are Israel, for unto them was given the desirable instrument;
+but it was by a special love that it was made known to them that that
+desirable instrument was theirs, through which the world was created,
+as it is said, 'For I give you good doctrine; forsake ye not my
+_Torah_.'  19. Everything is foreseen, yet free will is given; and the
+world is judged by grace, yet all is according to the amount of the
+work."  20. He used to say, "Everything is given on pledge, and a net
+is spread for all living; the shop is open; the dealer gives credit;
+the ledger lies open; the hand writes; and whosoever wishes to borrow
+may come and borrow; but the collectors regularly make their daily
+round, and exact payment from man whether he be content or not; and
+they have that whereon they can rely in their demand; and the judgment
+is a judgment of truth; and everything is prepared for the feast."
+
+21. R. Eleazar, the son of Azariah, said, "Where there is no _Torah_,
+there are no manners; where there are no manners, there is no _Torah_:
+where there is no wisdom, there is no fear of God; where there is no
+fear of God, there is no wisdom: where there is no knowledge, there no
+understanding; where there is no understanding, there is no knowledge:
+where there is no meal, there is no _Torah;_ where there is no
+_Torah_, there is no meal."  22. He used to say, "He whose wisdom
+exceeds his works, to what is he like?  To a tree whose branches are
+many, but whose roots are few; and the wind comes and plucks it up,
+and overturns it upon its face, as it is said, 'And he shall be like a
+lonely juniper tree in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh;
+but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land
+and not inhabited.'  But he whose works exceed his wisdom, to what is
+he like?  To a tree whose branches are few, but whose roots are many,
+so that though all the winds in the world come and blow upon it, they
+cannot stir it from its place, as it is said, 'And he shall be as a
+tree planted by the waters; and that spreadeth out its roots by the
+river and shall not perceive when heat cometh, but his leaf shall be
+green; and shall not be troubled in the year of drought, neither shall
+cease from yielding fruit.'"
+
+23. R. Eleazar Chisma said, "The laws concerning the sacrifices of
+birds and the purification of women are essential ordinances;
+astronomy and geometry are the after-courses of wisdom."
+
+Rabbi Chanania, the son of Akashia, said, "The Holy One, blessed be
+He, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore He gave them a
+copious _Torah_ and many commandments, as it is said, 'It pleased the
+Lord, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify the _Torah_ and make it
+honorable'".
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+All Israel have a portion in the world to come, and it is said, "And
+thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for
+ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be
+glorified".
+
+1. Ben Zoma said, "Who is wise?  He who learns from all men, as it is
+said, 'from all my teachers have I gotten understanding.'  Who is
+mighty?  He who controls his passions, as it is said, 'He that is slow
+to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth over his spirit
+than he that taketh a city.'  Who is rich?  He who rejoices in his
+portion, as it is said, 'When thou eatest the labor of thine hands,
+happy art thou, and it shall be well with thee'; happy art thou in
+this world, and it shall be well with thee in the world to come.  Who
+is honored?  He who honors others, as it is said, 'For them that honor
+me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be held in contempt.'"
+
+2. Ben Azzai said, "Hasten to do even a slight precept, and flee from
+transgression; for one virtue leads to another, and transgression
+draws transgression in its train; for the recompense of a virtue is a
+virtue, and the recompense of a transgression is a transgression."  3.
+He used to say, "Despise not any man, and carp not at any thing; for
+there is not a man that has not his hour, and there is not a thing
+that has not its place."
+
+4. R. Levitas of Jabneh said, "Be exceedingly lowly of spirit, since
+the hope of man is but the worm."
+
+5. R. Jochanan, the son of Berokah, said, "Whosoever profanes the Name
+of Heaven in secret will suffer the penalty for it in public; and
+this, whether the Heavenly Name be profaned in ignorance or in
+wilfulness."
+
+6. R. Ishmael, his son, said, "He who learns in order to teach, to him
+the means will be granted both to learn and to teach; but he who
+learns in order to practise, to him the means will be granted to
+learn, and to teach, to observe, and to practise."
+
+7. R. Zadok said, "Separate not thyself from the congregation; (in the
+judge's office) act not the counsel's part; make not of the _Torah_ a
+crown wherewith to aggrandize thyself, nor a spade wherewith to dig."
+So also used Hillel to say, "He who makes a worldly use of the crown
+(of the _Torah_) shall waste away."  Hence thou mayest infer that
+whosoever derives a profit for himself from the words of the _Torah_
+is helping on his own destruction.
+
+8. R. Jose said, "Whoso honors the _Torah_ will himself be honored by
+mankind, but whoso dishonors the _Torah_ will himself be dishonored by
+mankind."
+
+9. R. Ishmael, his son, said, "He who shuns the judicial office rids
+himself of hatred, robbery, and vain swearing; but he who
+presumptuously lays down decisions is foolish, wicked, and of an
+arrogant spirit."  10. He used to say, "Judge not alone, for none may
+judge alone save One; neither say (to thy judicial colleagues),
+'Accept my view,' for the choice is theirs (to concur); and it is not
+for thee (to compel concurrence)."
+
+11. R. Jonathan said, "Whoso fulfils the _Torah_ in the midst of
+poverty shall in the end fulfil it in the midst of wealth; and whoso
+neglects the _Torah_ in the midst of wealth shall in the end neglect
+it in the midst of poverty."
+
+12. R. Meir said, "Lessen thy toil for worldly goods, and be busy in
+the _Torah_; be humble of spirit before all men; if thou neglectest
+the _Torah_, many causes for neglecting it will be present themselves
+to thee, but if thou laborest in the _Torah_, He has abundant
+recompense to give thee."
+
+13. R. Elieser, the son of Jacob, said, "He who does one precept has
+gotten himself one advocate; and he who commits one transgression has
+gotten himself one accuser.  Repentance and good deeds are as a shield
+against punishment."
+
+14. R. Jochanan, the sandal-maker, said, "Every assembly which is in
+the Name of Heaven will in the end be established, but that which is
+not in the Name of Heaven will not in the end be established."
+
+15. R. Eleazer, the son of Shammua, said, "Let the honor of thy
+disciple be as dear to thee as thine own, and the honor of thine
+associate be like the fear of thy master, and the fear of thy master
+like the fear of Heaven."
+
+16. R. Judah said, "Be cautious in study, for an error in study may
+amount to presumptuous sin."
+
+17. R. Simeon said, "There are three crowns: the crown of _Torah_, the
+crown of priesthood, and the crown of royalty; but the crown of a good
+name excels them all."
+
+18. R. Nehorai said, "Betake thyself to a home of the _Torah_, and say
+not that the _Torah_ will come after thee; for there thy associates
+will establish thee in the possession of it; and lean not upon thine
+own understanding."
+
+19. R. Jannia said, "It is not in our power (to explain) either the
+prosperity of the wicked or the afflictions of the righteous."
+
+20. R. Mattithiah, the son of Heresh, said, "Be beforehand in the
+salutation of peace to all men; and be rather a tail to lions than a
+head to foxes."
+
+21. R. Jacob said, "This world is like a vestibule before the world to
+come; prepare thyself in the vestibule, that thou mayest enter into
+the hall."  22. He used to say, "Better is one hour of repentance and
+good deeds in this world than the whole life of the world to come; and
+better is one hour of blissfulness of spirit in the world to come than
+the whole life of this world."
+
+23. R. Simeon, the son of Eleazer, said, "Do not appease thy fellow in
+the hour of his anger, and comfort him not in the hour when his dead
+lies before him, and question him not in the hour of his vow, and rush
+not to see him in the hour of his disgrace."
+
+24. Samuel, the younger, used to say, "Rejoice not when thine enemy
+falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: lest the
+Lord see it and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from
+him."
+
+25. Elisha, the son of Abuyah, said, "If one learns as a child, what
+is it like?  Like ink written in clean paper.  If one learns as an old
+man, what is it like?  Like ink written on used paper."
+
+26. R. Jose, the son of Judah, of Chefar Babli said, "He who learns
+from the young, to what is he like?  To one who eats unripe grapes,
+and drinks wine from his vat.  And he who learns from the old, to what
+is he like?  To one who eats ripe grapes, and drinks old wine."
+
+27. Rabbi Meir said, "Look not at the flask, but at what it contains:
+there may be a new flask full of old wine, and an old flask that has
+not even new wine in it."
+
+28. R. Eleazar ha-Kappar said, "Envy, cupidity, and ambition take a
+man from the world."  29. He used to say, "They that are born are
+doomed to die; and the dead to be brought to life again; and the
+living to be judged, to know, to make known, and to be made conscious
+that He is God, He the Maker, He the Creator, He the Discerner, He the
+Judge, He the Witness, He the Accuser; He it is that will in future
+judge, blessed be He, with Whom there is no unrighteousness, nor
+forgetfulness, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes; and know
+also that everything is according to the reckoning; and let not thy
+imagination give thee hope that the grave will be a place of refuge
+for thee; for perforce thou wast formed, and perforce thou wast born,
+and thou livest perforce, and perforce thou wilt die, and perforce
+thou wilt in the future have to give account and reckoning before the
+Supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He."
+
+Rabbi Chanania, the son of Akashia, said, "The Holy One, blessed be
+He, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore He gave them a
+copious _Torah_ and many commandments, as it is said, 'It pleased the
+Lord, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify the _Torah_ and make it
+honorable'".
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+All Israel have a portion in the world to come, and it is said, "And
+thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for
+ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be
+glorified".
+
+1. With ten sayings the world was created.  What does this teach us?
+Could it not have been created with one saying?  It is to make known
+the punishment that will befall the wicked who destroy the world that
+was created with ten sayings, as well as the goodly reward that will
+be bestowed upon the just who preserve the world that was created with
+ten sayings.  2. There were ten generations from Adam to Noah, to make
+known how long-suffering God is, seeing that all those generations
+continued provoking him, until he brought upon them the waters of the
+flood.  3. There were ten generations from Noah to Abraham, to make
+known how long-suffering God is, seeing that all those generations
+continued provoking him, until Abraham, our father, came, and received
+the reward they should all have earned.  4. With ten trials our father
+Abraham was tried, and he stood firm in them all, to make known how
+great was the love of our father Abraham.  5. Ten miracles were
+wrought for our fathers in Egypt, and ten at the Sea.  6. Ten plagues
+did the Holy One, blessed be He, bring upon the Egyptians in Egypt,
+and ten at the Sea.  7. With ten temptations did our fathers tempt the
+Holy One, blessed be He, in the wilderness, as it is said, "And they
+tempted me these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice."  8.
+Ten miracles were wrought for our fathers in the Temple; no woman
+miscarried from the scent of the holy flesh; the holy flesh never
+became putrid; no fly was seen in the slaughter-house; no unclean
+accident ever befell the high-priest on the Day of Atonement; the rain
+never quenched the fire of the wood-pile on the altar; neither did the
+wind overcome the column of smoke that arose therefrom; nor was there
+ever found any disqualifying defect in the omer (of new barley,
+offered on the second day of Passover) or in the two loaves (the first
+fruits of the wheat-harvest, offered on Pentecost), or in the
+shewbread; though the people stood closely pressed together, they
+found ample space to prostrate themselves; never did serpent or
+scorpion injure any one in Jerusalem; nor did any man ever say to his
+fellow, "the place is too strait for me to lodge over night in
+Jerusalem."  9. Ten things were created on the eve of Sabbath in the
+twilight: the mouth of the earth; the mouth of the well; the mouth of
+the ass; the rainbow; the manna; the rod; the shamir; the shape of
+written characters; the writing, and the tables of stone: some say,
+the destroying spirits also, and the sepulchre of Moses, and the ram
+of Abraham our father; and others say, tongs, also, made with tongs.
+
+10. There are seven marks of an uncultured, and seven of a wise man.
+The wise man does not speak before him who is greater than he in
+wisdom; and does not interrupt the speech of his companion; he is not
+hasty to answer; he questions according to the subject-matter; and
+answers to the point; he speaks upon the first thing first, and upon
+the last, last; regarding that which he has not understood he says, "I
+do not understand it;" and he acknowledges the truth.  The reverse of
+all this is to be found in an uncultured man.  11. Seven kinds of
+punishment come into the world for seven important transgressions.  If
+some give their tithes and others do not, a dearth ensues from drought
+and some suffer hunger while others are full.  If they all determine
+to give no tithes, a dearth ensures from tumult and drought.  If they
+further resolve not to give the dough-cake, an exterminating dearth
+ensures.  Pestilence comes into the world to fulfil those death
+penalties threatened in the _Torah_, the execution of which, however,
+is within the function of a human tribunal, and for the violation of
+the law regarding the fruits of the seventh year.  The sword comes
+into the world for the delay of justice, and for the perversion of
+justice, and on account of the offence of those who interpret the
+_Torah_, not according to its true sense.  Noxious beasts come into
+the world for vain swearing, and for the profanation of the Divine
+Name.  Captivity comes into the world on account of idolatry,
+immortality, bloodshed, and the neglect of the year of rest for the
+soil.  12. At four periods pestilence grows apace: in the fourth year,
+in the seventh, at the conclusion of the seventh year, and at the
+conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles in each year: in the fourth
+year, for default of giving the tithe to the poor in the third year;
+in the seventh year, for default of giving the title to the poor in
+the sixth year; at the conclusion of the seventh year, for the
+violation of the law regarding the fruits of the seventh year, and at
+the conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles in each year, for robbing
+the poor of the grants legally assigned to them.
+
+13. There are four characters among men: he who says, "What is mine is
+mine and what is thine is thine," his is a neutral character; some
+say, "This is a character like that of Sodom"; he who says, "What is
+mine is thine and what is thine is mine," is a boor; he who says,
+"What is mine is thine and what is thine is thine," is a saint; he who
+says, "What is thine is mine and what is mine is mine," is a wicked
+man.  14. There are four kinds of tempers: he whom it is easy to
+provoke and easy to pacify, his loss disappears in his gain; he whom
+it is hard to provoke and hard to pacify, his gain disappears in his
+loss; he whom it is hard to provoke and easy to pacify is a saint; he
+whom it is easy to provoke and hard to pacify is a wicked man.  15.
+There are four qualities in disciples: he who quickly understands and
+quickly forgets, his gain disappears in his loss; he who understands
+with difficulty and forgets with difficulty, his loss disappears in
+his gain; he who understands quickly and forgets with difficulty, his
+is a good portion; he who understands with difficulty and forgets
+quickly, his is an evil portion.  16. As to almsgiving there are four
+dispositions: he who desires to give, but that others should not give,
+his eye is evil toward what appertains to others; he who desires that
+others should give, but will not give himself, his eye is evil against
+what is his own; he who gives and wishes others to give is a saint; he
+who will not give and does not wish others to give is a wicked man.
+17. There are four characters among those who attend the house of
+study: he who goes and does not practise secures the reward for going;
+he who practises but does not go secures the reward for practising; he
+who goes and practises is a saint; he who neither goes nor practises
+is a wicked man.  18. There are four qualities among those that sit
+before the wise: they are like a sponge, a funnel, a strainer, or a
+sieve: a sponge, which sucks up everything; a funnel, which lets in at
+one end and out at the other; a strainer, which lets the wine pass out
+and retains the dregs; a sieve, which lets out the bran and retains
+the fine flour.
+
+19. Whenever love depends upon some material cause, with the passing
+away of that cause, the love, too, passes away; but if it be not
+depending upon such a cause, it will not pass away for ever.  Which
+love was that which depended upon a material cause?  Such was the love
+of Ammon and Tamar.  And that which depended upon no such cause?  Such
+was the love of David and Jonathan.
+
+20. Every controversy that is in the Name of Heaven shall in the end
+lead to a permanent result, but every controversy that is not in the
+Name of Heaven shall not lead to a permanent result.  Which
+controversy was that which was in the Name of Heaven?  Such was the
+controversy of Hillel and Shammai.  And that which was not in the Name
+of Heaven?  Such was the controversy of Korah and all his company.
+
+21. Whosoever causes the multitude to be righteous, over him sin
+prevails not; but he who causes the multitude to sin shall not have
+the means to repent.  Moses was righteous and made the multitude
+righteous; the righteousness of the multitude was laid upon him, as it
+is said, "He executed the justice of the Lord and his judgments with
+Israel."  Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, sinned and caused the multitude
+to sin; the sin of the multitude was laid upon him, as it is said,
+"For the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned and which he made Israel to
+sin."
+
+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.  A good eye, 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"; but the
+disciples of Balaam, the wicked, inherit _Gehinnom_, 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."
+
+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."  24. He used to say, "At five years (the age
+is reached for the study of the) Scripture, at ten for (the study of)
+the _Mishnah_, at thirteen for (the fulfilment of) the commandments,
+at fifteen for (the study of) the _Talmud_, at eighteen for marriage,
+at twenty for seeking (a livelihood), 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, 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."
+
+25. Ben Bag Bag said, "Turn it, and turn it over again, for everything
+is in it, and contemplate it, and wax grey and old over it, and stir
+not from it, for thou canst have no better rule than this."
+
+26. Ben He He said, "According to the labor is the reward."
+
+Rabbi Chanania, the son of Akashia, said, "The Holy One, blessed be
+He, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore He gave them a
+copious _Torah_ and many commandments, as it is said, 'It pleased the
+Lord, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify the _Torah_ and make it
+honorable'".
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE ACQUISITION OF THE TORAH
+
+All Israel have a portion in the world to come, and it is said, "And
+thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for
+ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be
+glorified".
+
+The sages taught (the following) in the language of the
+_Mishnah_--blessed be He that made choice of them and their _Mishnah_.
+ 1. R. Meir said, "Whosoever labors in the _Torah_ for its own sake
+merits many things; and not only so, but the whole world is indebted
+to him: he is called friend, beloved, a lover of the All-present, a
+lover of mankind: it clothes him with meekness and reverence; it fits
+him to become just, pious, upright, and faithful; it keeps him far
+from sin, and brings him near to virtue; through him are enjoyed
+counsel and sound knowledge, understanding and strength, as it is
+said, 'Counsel is mind, and sound knowledge; I am understanding; I
+have strength.'  It gives him sovereignty and dominion and discerning
+judgment; to him the secrets of the _Torah_ are revealed; he is made
+like a never-failing spring and like a river that flows on with
+ever-increasing vigor; he becomes modest, long-suffering, and
+forgiving of insults; and it magnifies and exalts him above all
+things."
+
+2. R. Joshua, the son of Levi, said, "Every day a _bat-kol_ goes forth
+from Mount Horeb, proclaiming and saying, 'Woe to mankind for contempt
+of the _Torah_, for whoever does not occupy himself in the _Torah_ is
+said to be under the divine censure, as it is said, 'As a ring of gold
+in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman who turneth aside from
+discretion'; and it says, 'And the tables were the work of God, and
+the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.'  Read not
+_charut_, but _cherut_, for no man is free but he who occupies himself
+in the learning of _Torah_.  But whosoever labors in the _torah_,
+behold he shall be exalted, as it is said, 'And from _Mattanah_ to
+_Nachaliel_, and from _Nachaliel_ to _Bamot_.'"
+
+3. He who learns from his companion a single chapter, a single rule, a
+single verse, a single expression, or even a single letter, ought to
+pay him honor, for so we find with David, King of Israel, who learned
+only two things from Ahitophel, and yet regarded him as his master,
+his guide, and familiar friend, as it is said, "But it was thou, a
+man, mine equal, my guide, and my familiar friend."  Now, is it not an
+argument from minor to major, that if David, the King of Israel, who
+learned only two things from Ahitophel, regarded him as his master,
+guide, and familiar friend, he who learns from his fellow a chapter,
+rule, verse, expression, or even a single letter, is bound to pay him
+honor.  And "honor" is nothing but _Torah_, as it is said, "The wise
+shall inherit honor and the perfect shall inherit good."  And "good"
+is nothing but _Torah_, as it is said, "For I give you good doctrine,
+forsake ye not my _Torah_."
+
+4. This is the way that is becoming for the study of the _Torah_: a
+morsel of bread with salt thou must eat, "and water by measure thou
+must drink," thou must sleep upon the ground, and live a life of
+trouble the while thou toilest in the _Torah_.  If thou doest thus,
+"Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee," "happy shalt
+thou be" in this world, and "it shall be well with thee" in the world
+to come.
+
+5. Seek not greatness for thyself, and court not honor; let thy works
+exceed thy learning; and crave not after the table of kings; for thy
+table is greater than theirs, and thy crown is greater than theirs,
+and thy Employer is faithful to pay thee the reward of thy work.
+
+6. The _Torah_ is greater than the priesthood and than royalty, for
+royalty demands thirty qualifications, the priesthood twenty-four,
+while the _Torah_ is acquired by forty-eight.  And these are they: by
+audible study; by a listening ear; by distinct pronunciation; by
+understanding and discernment of the heart; by awe, reverence,
+meekness, cheerfulness; by ministering to the sages, by attaching
+one's self to colleagues, by discussion with disciples; by sedateness;
+by knowledge of the Scripture and of the _Mishnah;_ by moderation in
+business, in intercourse with the world, in pleasure, in sleep, in
+conversation, in laughter; by long suffering; by a good heart; by
+faith in the wise; by resignation under chastisement; by recognizing
+one's place, rejoicing in one's portion, putting a fence to one's
+words, claiming no merit for one's self, by being beloved, loving the
+All-present, loving mankind, loving just courses, rectitude, and
+reproof; by keeping one's self far from honor, not boasting of one's
+learning, nor delighting in giving decisions; by bearing the yoke with
+one's fellow, judging him favorably, and leading him to truth and
+peace; by being composed in one's study; by asking and answering,
+hearing and adding thereto; by learning with the object of teaching,
+and by learning with the object of practising; by making one's master
+wise, fixing attention upon his discourse, and reporting a thing in
+the name of who said it.  So thou hast learned, "Whosoever reports a
+thing in the name of him that said it brings deliverance into the
+world," as it is said, "And Esther told the king in the name of
+Mordecai."
+
+7. Great is the _Torah_, which gives life to those that practise it in
+this world and in the world to come, as it is said, "For they are life
+unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh"; and it
+says, "It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones"; and
+it says, "It is a tree of life to them that grasp it, and of them that
+uphold it every one is rendered happy"; and it says, "For they shall
+be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck"; and
+it says, "It shall give to thine head a chaplet of grace, a crown of
+glory it shall deliver to thee"; and it says, "For by me thy days
+shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased";
+and it says, "Length of days is in its right hand; in its left hand
+are riches and honor"; and it says, "For length of days, and years of
+life, and peace shall they add to thee."
+
+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'; and it says, 'The glory of young
+men is their strength, and the adornment of old men is the hoary
+head'; and it says, 'A crown unto the wise is their riches'; and it
+says, 'Children's children are the crown of old men, and the adornment
+of children are their fathers'; 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.'"  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, and in his sons."
+
+9. R. Jose, the son of Kisma, 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'; 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';
+'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.'"
+
+10. Five possessions the Holy One, blessed be He, made especially His
+own in His world, and these are they, the _Torah_, heaven and earth,
+Abraham, Israel, and the house of the sanctuary.  Whence know we this
+of the _Torah?_  Because it is written, "The Lord possessed me as the
+beginning of his way, before his works, from of old."  Whence of
+heaven and earth?  Because it is written, "Thus saith the Lord, the
+heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of
+house will ye build unto me? and what manner of place for my rest?";
+and it says, "How manifold are thy works, O Lord!  In wisdom hast thou
+made them all: the earth is full of thy possessions."  Whence of
+Abraham?  Because it is written, "And he blessed him, and said,
+'Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and
+earth."  Whence of Israel?  Because it is written, "Till thy people
+pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over which thou hast
+acquired"; and it says, "As for the saints that are in the earth, they
+are the noble ones in whom is all my delight."  Whence of the house of
+the sanctuary?  Because it is written, "The place, O Lord, which thou
+hast made for Thee to dwell in, the sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands
+have prepared"; and it says, "And he brought them to the border of his
+sanctuary, to this mountain which his right hand had acquired."  11.
+Whatsoever the Holy One, blessed be He, created in His world He
+created but for His glory, as it is said, "Everything that is called
+by my name, it is for my glory I have created it, I have formed it,
+yea, I have made it"; and it says, "The Lord shall reign for ever and
+ever."
+
+Rabbi Chanania, the son of Akashia, said, "The Holy One, blessed be
+He, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore He gave them a
+copious _Torah_ and many commandments, as it is said, 'It pleased the
+Lord, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify the _Torah_ and make it
+honorable'".
+
+
+
+
+
+_____________________
+  TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
+
+CHAPTERS II through VI:
+
+The source text included the following lines:
+          "All Israel," etc., p. 29
+and
+          "Rabbi Chanania," etc., p. 38.
+ as the first and last line of each chapter, the page numbers referring
+to the beginning and ending of Chapter I.  Rather than reference these
+two sentences in this manner, this text version copies the two
+sentences to their intended locations.  The transcriber believes this
+better captures the intent and functionality of the text.
+
+
+
+Chapter III:
+
+R. Meir
+     umlaut over the i, wherever this name appears
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV:
+
+happy art thou in this world, and
+     in the source text, the comma after 'worls' was a period.  This
+     was corrected for this electronic text.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V:
+
+tables of stone
+     are as written in the source text as a translation of the Hebrew
+     "luchot"; modern readers may better recognize the phrase 'tablets
+     of stone'.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Pirke Avot, by Traditional Text
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIRKE AVOT ***
+
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