The complete first chapter of Pirke Avot, the Ethics of the Fathers. I've translated it pretty literally. wiggly brackets "{}" are what square brackets are normally used for; adding words in translation not in the original text.


Mishnah, Pirke Avot Chapter 1,

1 - Moses received the Torah from Sinai, and transmitted it to Joshua, and Joshua to the Elders, and the Elders to the prophets, and the prophets transmitted it to the Men of the Great Assembly. They used to say three things: "Be deliberate in judgement, and make many students, and make a fence for the Torah."

2 - Shimon Hatzadik (the righteous) was one of the remnants of the Great Assembly. He used to say: "on three things does the world stand: On Torah, on work, and on acts of kindness".

3 - Antigonos of Socho received {the tradition} from Shimon Hatzadik. He used to say: "Don't be like servants who serve the Master on condition of getting a reward; rather be like servants who serve the Master with no condition of getting a reward; and let the fear of Heaven be upon you".

4 - Yose son of Yoezer of Zreidah, and Yose son of Yochanan of Jerusalem received {the tradition} from them. Yose son of Yoezer of Zreidah used to say: "Let your house be a meeting of sages, and sit in the dust of their feet, and drink with a thirst their words".

5 - Yose son of Yochanan of Jerusalem used to say: "Let your house be open wide, and let the poor be members of your household, and don't chat too much with women. If this applies even to your wife, how much more so to your friend's wife!". From here the sages say: " Anyone who chats too much with women beings evel on himself, wastes {time to study} the Torah, and in the end will inherit Gehinnom".

6 - Yehoshuah son of Parchia and Nitai the Arbelite received {the tradition} from them. Yehoshuah son of Parchia used to say: "Make for yourself a teacher; aquire yourself a friend; and judge every person in a favourable way".

7 - Nitai the Arbelite used to say: "Stay away from an evil friend, don't bind yourself to a wicked person, and don't worry about retribution".

8 - Yehudah ben Tabai and Shimon son of Shetach received {the tradition} from them. Yehudah ben Tabai used to say: "{When judging a case,} don't make yourself like an advocate; and when the parties are before you, let them be like guilty men in your eyes; but when they leave you, let them be like innocent men, those that accept judgement on themselves".

9 - Shimon son of Shetach used to say: "Thouroughly question witnesses, and be careful with your words, in case they can learn from them how to lie".

10 - Shmaiya and Avtalyon received {the tradition} from them. Shmaiya used to say: "love labour, hate the overlords, and don't get too friendly with the Authorities".

11 - Avtalyon used to say: "Sages, be careful with your words, for you may be exiled and sent to a place of bad waters. Then students who come to you will drink and die, and it will be a desecration of the name of Heaven".

12 - Hillel and Shamai received {the tradition} from them. Hillel used to say: " Be as the students of Aaron, love peace and pursue peace, love the creations and bring them closer to Torah".

13 - He used to say: "One who seeks fame will lose his name; and if a thing is not added to it diminishes, and whoever will not teach deserves death, and whoever abuses the Crown will fade away."

14 - He used to say "if I am not for me, who will be for me? And if I am just for myself, what am I? And if not know, when?"

15 - Shamai used to say: "Make your Torah fixed; say little and do much; and receive every person with a cheerful face".

16 - Rabban Gamliel used to say: "Make for yourself a teacher; Remove yourself from doubt, and don't tithe too much deliberately".

17 - Shimon his son used to say: "All my days I have grown up with Sages, and I have found nothing better than silence. And it is not the study that is the main thing, but the action. And all who talk too much bring sin".

18 - Rabban Shimon son of Gamliel used to say: "On three things the world exists: On Justice, Truth and Peace; as it is said 'Truth and the verdict of peace will judge at your gates'1".


1 Zachariah 8:17

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