hey have good
authority to support them, and the judgment is true justice, and all
things are ready for the feast."

17. R. Eleazar, son of Azariah, said, "if there be no law, there is no
morality, and if there be no morality, there is no law; if there be no
wisdom, there is no reverence, and if there be no reverence, there is no
wisdom; if there be no understanding, there is no knowledge, and if there
be no knowledge, there is no understanding; if there be no meal, there can
be no study of the law, and if there be no law, there will be no meal." He
used to say, "to what may he be likened whose wisdom exceeds his goods
deeds? To a tree whose branches are many and his roots few, so that the
wind comes and plucks it up and overturns it, as is said, 'For he shall be
like the heath in the desert, and he shall not see when good cometh, but
shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness in a salt land and not
inhabited.'(488) But to what is he like whose good deeds exceed his
wisdom? To a tree whose branches are few and its roots many, so that if
all the winds in the world come and assail it, they cannot move it from
its place, as is said, 'For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat
cometh, but her leaf shall be green and shall not be careful in the year
of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.' "(489)

18. R. Eleazar, son of Chisma, said, "sacrifices of doves and observance
of times are important constitutions. Astronomy and geometry are the
ornaments of wisdom."

Chapter IV

1. The son of Zoma said, "Who is wise? He who is willing to receive
instruction from all men, as is said, 'Than all my teachers.'(490) Who is
mighty? He who subdues his evil imagination, as is said, 'He that is slow
to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he
that taketh a city.'(491) Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot, as is
said, 'For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands, happy shalt thou be
and it shall be well with thee';(492) happy shalt thou be in this world,
and it shall be well with thee in the world to come. Who is honorable? He
who honors mankind, as is said, 'For them that honor me I will honor, and
they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.' "(493)

2. Ben Asai said, "run to the performance of a slight precept as though it
were a grave one, and flee from transgression, for the performance of