Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 6/1

Hebrew Text

רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר:

כָּל הָעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה לִשְׁמָהּ זוֹכֶה לִדְבָרִים הַרְבֵּה,

וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא שֶׁכָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ כְּדַאי הוּא לוֹ;

נִקְרָא רֵעַ, אָהוּב,

אוֹהֵב אֶת הַמָּקוֹם, אוֹהֵב אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת,

מְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת הַמָּקוֹם, מְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת;

וּמַלְבַּשְׁתּוֹ עֲנָוָה וְיִרְאָה,

וּמַכְשַׁרְתּוֹ לִהְיוֹת צַדִּיק, חָסִיד, יָשָׁר וְנֶאֱמָן,

וּמְרַחַקְתּוֹ מִן הַחֵטְא,

וּמְקָרַבְתּוֹ לִידֵי זְכוּת;

וְנֶהֱנִין מִמֶּנּוּ עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּה, בִּינָה וּגְבוּרָה,

שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: "לִי עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּה אֲנִי בִינָה לִי גְבוּרָה;"

וְנוֹתֶנֶת לוֹ מַלְכוּת, וּמֶמְשָׁלָה וְחִקּוּר דִּין,

וּמְגַלִּין לוֹ רָזֵי תוֹרָה,

וְנַעֲשֶׂה כְּמַעְיָן הַמִּתְגַּבֵּר, וּכְנָהָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ פּוֹסֵק;

וְהֹוֶה צָנוּע וְאֶרֶךְ רוּחַ,

וּמוֹחֵל עַל עֶלְבּוֹנוֹ;

וּמְגַדַּלְתּוֹ וּמְרוֹמַמְתּוֹ עַל כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים.

English Translation

Rabbi Meir says:

Anyone who involves himself in Torah for its own sake merits many things,

and moreover the entire world is worthwhile for his sake;

He is called "friend," "beloved,"

"lover of the Ominpresent," "lover of [all] creatures,"

"delighter of the Ominpresent," "delighter of [all] creatures;"

He is clothed in humility and reverence,

and it prepares him to be righteous, devout, upright and trustworthy,

and it distances him from sin,

and draws him near to merit;

We enjoy from him counsel and comprehension, understanding and strength,

as it is said (Proverbs 8:14): "Mine is counsel and comprehension, I am understanding, mine is strength;"

It gives him kingship and dominion, and [the ability to] investigate in judgement,

and the secrets of the Torah are revealed to him,

and he becomes like an ever-strengthening spring, and like a river that does not stop;

He is modest and long-tempered,

and forgives insult to him;

And it enlarges him and raises him above all [that God] made.