Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 2

Mishnah,
translated from Hebrew by Wikisource
949945Mishnah, — Seder Nezikin, Tractate Avot: Chapter 2Wikisource

Mishnah 1

Rabbi [Yehuda haNasi] said:
Which is the right path that a person should choose for himself?
Whichever [path] that is [itself] an honor to the person adopting [it],
And [on account of which] honor [accrues] to him from [other] people.

And be as careful with a light commandment as with a weighty one,
For you do not know the reward given [for the fulfillment] of [the respective] commandments.
Also, weigh the loss [that may be sustained through the fulfillment] of a commandment against the reward [that may be obtained] for [fulfilling] it,
And [weigh] the gain [that may be obtained through the committing] of a transgression against the loss [that may be sustained] by [committing] it.

Keep your eye on three things, and you will not come into the grip of sin:
Know what is above you:
An Eye that sees,
And an Ear that hears,
And all your deeds are written in a book.


Mishnah 2

Rabban Gamliel the son of Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi said:
Excellent is the study of the Torah together with a worldly occupation,
For the exertion [expended] in both of them causes sin to be forgotten.
And all [study of the] Torah in the absence of a worldly occupation comes to nothing in the end and leads to sin.

And all who work for the community, let them work for the [sake of the] name of Heaven,
For the merit of the [community’s] ancestors sustains them,
And their [ancestors’] righteousness will endure forever.
And as for you [who work for the community], [God says:] I credit you with a great reward, as if you [yourselves] had [actually] done [everything on your own].


Mishnah 3

Be careful about the authorities who approach a man only when they need him.
They seem like good friends in good times,
but they don't stay for him in time of his trouble.


Mishnah 4 Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 2/4

Mishnah 5


Mishnah 6 Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 2/6

Mishnah 7 Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 2/7

Mishnah 8 Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 2/8

Mishnah 9 Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 2/9

Mishnah 10 Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 2/10

Mishnah 11 Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 2/11

Mishnah 12 Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 2/12

Mishnah 13 Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 2/13

Mishnah 14 Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 2/14

Mishnah 15 Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 2/15

Mishnah 16