the Sages of Israel were in one scale of the balance, and
R. Eleazar, 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,
and even R. Eleazar, son of Hyrcanus, with them, and R. Eleazar, son of
Arach, in the other, he would outweigh them all."

9. He also said to them, "go forth and consider which is the good path for
man to cleave to?" To this R. Eleazar answered, "a good eye." R. Joshua
said, "a good companion." R. Jose said, "a good neighbor." R. Simon said,
"he who foresees the future." R. Eleazar said, "a good heart." He then
said to them, "I prefer the words of R. Eleazar, son of Arach, above
yours, as his words include yours." He also said to them, "go forth and
consider which is the bad way that man should shun"; to which R. Eleazar
said, "a bad eye." R. Joshua said, "a bad companion." R. Jose said, "a bad
neighbor." R. Simon said, "he who borrows and pays not; for when one
borrows from man, it is as if he borrows from God, as is said, 'The wicked
borroweth and payeth not again; but the righteous showeth mercy and
giveth.' "(469) R. Eleazar said, "a bad heart." He then said to them, "I
prefer the words of R. Eleazar, son of Arach, above yours, as his words
include yours."

10. They also said three things. R. Eleazar said, "let the honor of thy
companion be as dear to thee as thine own; and be not easily moved to
anger; and repent one day before thy death; and warm thyself by the fire
of the Sages, and be careful that their coal does not burn thee, for their
bite is as a bite of a fox, and their sting is as the sting of a scorpion,
and their burn is the burn of a fiery serpent, and all their words are as
fiery coals."

11. R. Joshua said, "the bad eye, the bad thought, and envy of companions,
cause the death of man."

12. R. Jose said, "let thy companion's property be as dear to thee as
thine own; and prepare thyself to study the law, as it cometh not to thee
by inheritance; and let all thine actions be in the name of God."

13. R. Simon said, "be careful of reading the 'Hear,'(470) etc., and the
other prayers; and when thou art praying consider not thy prayer as fixed,
but as supplicating mercy in the presence of the Supreme, as is said, 'For
He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and
repenteth Him of the evil';(471) and be not impious in thine own sight."

14. R. Eleazar said, "be diligent to stud