# Superiority

<div dir="rtl">הִתְנַשְּׂאוּת</div>

Source: https://ajew.org/reader/sefer-hamidos/1/25


## Segment 1

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מִי שֶׁמַּטִּיל אֵימָה יְתֵרָה עַל הַצִּבּוּר שֶׁלֹּא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, אֵינוֹ רוֹאֶה בֶּן תַּלְמִיד־חָכָם.

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1. One who instills inordinate dread upon the public not for the sake of Heaven, does not see a son as a Torah scholar.


## Segment 2

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הַמַּתְחִיל בִּדְבַר מִצְוָה וְאֵינוֹ גּוֹמְרָהּ, מוֹרִידִין אוֹתוֹ מִגְּדֻלָּתוֹ.

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2. One who begins a matter of a Mitzvah, and does not finish it, he is brought down from his greatness.


## Segment 3

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כְּשֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא נִפְרָע מִשּׂוֹנְאֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, מְמַנֶּה לָהֶם פַּרְנָסִים שֶׁאֵינָם טוֹבִים.

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3. When the Holy One Blessed is He, takes retribution upon the enemies of Israel (t.n this is a euphemism for Israel), He appoints for them directors whom are not good.


## Segment 4

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מְנַשְּׂאִין אֶת בֶּן צַדִּיק, כְּשֶׁאֵינוֹ הוֹלֵךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ יָשָׁר, כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּלֵךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ יָשָׁר.

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4. The son of a righteous man is raised when he does not go in a straight path, in order that he should go in a straight path.


## Segment 5

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עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה מִתְנַשֵּׂא.

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5. Through (giving) charity, one rises.


## Segment 6

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אֵין אָדָם עוֹלֶה לִגְדֻלָּה אֶלָּא־אִם־כֵּן מוֹחֲלִין לוֹ כָּל עֲווֹנוֹתָיו.

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6. A man does not rise to greatness unless he is forgiven for all his sins.


## Segment 7

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כְּשֶׁמְּנַשְּׂאִין אֶת אָדָם חָשׁוּב, אֵין מוֹרִידִין אוֹתוֹ.

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7. When [Heaven] raises an important man, they do not bring him down.


## Segment 8

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עַל־יְדֵי חָכְמָה וְשִׁפְלוּת וּמְעֹרָב בֵּין הַבְּרִיּוֹת, דִּבּוּרוֹ נִתְקַיֵּם לְמַעְלָה.

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8. Through wisdom, humility, and being social, one's words are fulfilled above.


## Segment 9

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כְּשֶׁרוֹצִים לְנַשֵּׂא אֵיזֶה צַדִּיק וּלְפַרְסֵם אוֹתוֹ, אֲזַי הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא שׁוֹלֵחַ מַחֲלֹקֶת בֵּין הָרְשָׁעִים.

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9. When [Heaven] wants to raise a righteous man and publicize him, [Heaven] sends discord between the evil people.


## Segment 10

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כְּשֶׁאֶחָד מְבַזֶּה אוֹתְךָ, וְאַתָּה מְקַבֵּל בְּשִׂמְחָה, עַל־יְדֵי זֶה תִּזְכֶּה לְכָבוֹד וְהִתְנַשְּׂאוּת בְּשִׂמְחָה.

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10. When someone humiliates you, and you accept it happily, through this you will merit respect and promotion with joy.


## Segment 11

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מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְקַבֵּל תּוֹכָחָה, עַל־יְדֵי זֶה אֵינוֹ נִתְגַּדֵּל.

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11. One who does not accept rebuke through this he does not grow (become great).


## Segment 12

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הִתְנַשְּׂאוּת בָּא לְמִי שֶׁמְּחַזֵּר תָּמִיד עַל לִמּוּדוֹ.

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12. Superiority comes to one who constantly reviews his learning.


## Segment 13

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הִתְנַשְּׂאוּת בָּא עַל־יְדֵי תּוֹכָחָה.

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13. Superiority comes through rebuke.


## Segment 14

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מִי שֶׁה' אֱלֹקָיו עִמּוֹ, יִהְיֶה לוֹ עֲלִיָּה.

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14. One whom Hashem his G-d is with him, he will have an ascent.


## Segment 15

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עַל־יְדֵי שִׁנּוּי הַשֵּׁם נִשְׁתַּנֶּה הַמַּזָּל.

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15. Through a change of name comes a change in fortune.


## Segment 16

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עַל־יְדֵי הַנְּסִיעָה שֶׁנּוֹסְעִים מִכְּפָר לִכְפָר וּמֵעִיר לְעִיר, דְּבָרָיו אֵינָם נִשְׁמָעִים.

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16. Through the traveling one does from village to village and from city to city, his words are not heard (accepted).


## Segment 17

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מִי שֶׁמְּלַמֵּד זְכוּת עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, זוֹכֶה לַעֲלִיָה גְּדוֹלָה.

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17. One who judges Israel favorably merits to a great ascent.


## Segment 18

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מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ הִתְנַשְּׂאוּת וְיָרֵא שֶׁלֹּא יִצְטָרֵךְ לָמוּת מֵחֲמַת שֶׁהִגִּיעַ עֵת שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ לְקַבֵּל אֶת הַהִתְנַשְּׂאוּת הַזֹּאת, יָנוּס מֵהִתְנַשְּׂאוּת הַזֹּאת, אוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת תַּחְבּוּלָה שֶׁיָּנוּס חֲבֵרוֹ מֵהָעִיר הַזֹּאת.

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18. One who has superiority, and fears lest he need die because his friend's time has come to receive this superiority, he should flee from this superiority, or he should employ a scheme that his friend should flee from this city.


## Segment 19

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כְּשֶׁבְּנֵי־אָדָם בָּאִים אֵצֶל אֶחָד וְאוֹמְרִים לוֹ: לַמְּדֵנוּ דֶּרֶךְ הַשֵּׁם, בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁיִּתְנַשֵּׂא.

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19. When people come to one and say to him, "Teach us the Way of G-d", it is certain that he will have superiority.


## Segment 20

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אֵין אָדָם נַעֲשָׂה מְפֻרְסָם אֶלָּא־אִם־כֵּן הַקָּדוֹשׁ־ בָּרוּךְ־הוּא מוֹפִיעַ עָלָיו מִלְמַעְלָה.

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20. A man does not become famous, unless the Holy One Blessed is He appears upon him from above.


## Segment 21

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הַהִתְנַשְּׂאוּת בָּא עַל־יְדֵי הַבִּטָּחוֹן שֶׁבִּשְׁעַת צָרָה.

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21. Superiority comes through having trust (in G-d) in time of trouble.


## Segment 22

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מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ שֵׂכֶל, בְּוַדַּאי יָרוּם בִּמְהֵרָה.

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22. Someone with intelligence will certainly ascend (to greatness) quickly.


## Segment 23

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כְּשֶׁהַצַּדִּיק נִתְרוֹמֵם, אֲזַי הָעוֹלָם תְּמֵהִים עָלָיו.

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23. When the tzadik is raised to great height, everyone is in wonderment over him.


## Segment 24

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מִי שֶׁשּׂוֹנֵא גֶּזֶל, עוֹלֶה לִגְדֻלָּה.

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24. One who hates theft rises to greatness.


## Segment 25

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עַל־יְדֵי חָכְמָה אוֹ הַצְלָחָה נַעֲשָׂה מְפֻרְסָם.

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25. Through wisdom or success, one becomes famous.


## Segment 26

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אָדָם – שֶׁאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם נוֹתְנִין לוֹ מַתָּנוֹת, יֵדַע שֶׁהִתְנַשְּׂאוּת שֶׁלּוֹ נְכוֹנָה מֵאֵת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ.

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26. A man to whom the nations of the world give him gifts, should know that his superiority has been prepared (correct/established) by the blessed G-d.


## Segment 27

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עַל־יְדֵי אֲמִירַת תְּהִלִּים נִתְרוֹמֵם.

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27. Through saying Tehillim (Psalms), one is elevated on high.


## Segment 28

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כְּשֶׁנִּתְנַשֵּׂא אָדָם, הֲוֵי כְּאִלּוּ הַיּוֹם נוֹלָד.

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28. When a man attains superiority, it is if he was newborn.


## Segment 29

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עַל־יְדֵי זְכִירַת שְׁמוֹת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה אֵינוֹ מִתְנַשֵּׂא.

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29. Due to mentioning names of idolatry, one does not rise (gain superiority).


## Segment 30

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עַל־יְדֵי לִמּוּד אַגָּדָה בַּלַּיְלָה מִתְנַשֵּׂא.

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30. Through learning Aggadah (non legal lore of the Talmud and Medrash) at night, one rises (See also Contention #48).


## Segment 31

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הִתְנַשְּׂאוּת בָּא עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁשּׂוֹנְאִים שֶׁקֶר.

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31. Eminence comes about through hating falsehood.


## Segment 32

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עַל־יְדֵי אַהֲבַת צַדִּיקִים מִתְנַשֵּׂא.

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32. Through loving the righteous (tzadikim), one rises.


## Segment 33

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עַל־יְדֵי עַבְדוּת בְּדַּעַת, לֹא כְּמִצְוַת אֲנָשִׁים מְלֻמָּדָה, בְּוַדַּאי יִתְנַשֵּׂא.

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33. Through serving G-d with cognizance, and not by rote, one will certainly rise.


## Segment 34

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הִתְנַשְּׂאוּת בָּא עַל־יְדֵי דִּבּוּרִים.

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34. Superiority comes through spoken words (statements, insights, maxims, or the like).


## Segment 35

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גַּם עַל־יְדֵי הַכְנָעָה.

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35. Also through submission (before G-d).


## Segment 36

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עַל־יְדֵי קִדּוּשׁ־הַשֵּׁם הָאָדָם נִתְרוֹמֵם.

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36. Through sanctifying the name of G-d, one is raised high.


## Segment 37

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הִתְנַשְּׂאוּת בָּא עַל־יְדֵי רַחֲמָנוּת.

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37. Superiority comes through having mercy.


## Segment 38

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עַל־יְדֵי אֱמוּנָה הוּא מוֹשֵׁל עַל בַּעֲלֵי־גַאֲוָה.

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38. Through faith, one rules over the arrogant.


## Segment 39

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מִי שֶׁמַּעֲמִיד דַּיָּן שֶׁאֵינוֹ הָגוּן, לְסוֹף שֶׁיִפֹּל בְּיַד שׁוֹפְטֵי אֻמּוֹת.

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39. One who appoints a judge who is not worthy will in the end be judged by (lit. fall into the hand of) gentile judges.


## Segment 40

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עַל־יְדֵי תּוֹכָחָה לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם זוֹכֶה לְהִתְנַשְּׂאוּת.

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40. Through giving rebuke for the sake of Heaven, one merits to superiority.


## Segment 41

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עַל־יְדֵי בִּנְיָן שֶׁבּוֹנֶה בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, זוֹכֶה לְהִתְנַשְּׂאוּת.

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41. Through building a house in the Land of Israel, one merits to superiority.


## Segment 42

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עַל־יְדֵי כְּבוֹד הַתּוֹרָה זוֹכֶה לְהִתְנַשְּׂאוּת.

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42. Through giving respect to the Torah, one merits to superiority.


## Segment 43

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לָאו בְּכָל עֵת יָכוֹל אָדָם לְהַנְהִיג נְשִׂיאוּתוֹ, כִּי לִפְעָמִים בָּא עֵת, שֶׁאֵין לָעֵת הַזֹּאת חַיּוּת כִּי־אִם מִנָּשִׂיא אַחֵר.

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43. Not always can a man rule his presidency, for sometimes there comes a time which this time has vitality only from a different president.


## Segment 44

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מִי שֶׁנִּשָּׂא אוֹתוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, תִּנְהַג בּוֹ כָּבוֹד וְתֵלֵךְ אֶצְלוֹ.

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44. Someone whom the Holy One Blessed is He has elevated, accord him respect and go to (be by) him.


## Segment 45

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הִתְנַשְּׂאוּת שֶׁל הָאָדָם הִיא טוֹבַת הַשָּׁעָה.

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45. The ascent of a man is a goodness of the hour.


## Segment 46

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מִי שֶׁנִּכְנַס בִּתְחוּמוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ, גְּדֻלָּתוֹ נִתְמַעֵט.

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1. One who infringes his friends territory, his greatness is diminished.


## Segment 47

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אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא נוֹתֵן גְּדֻלָּה לְאָדָם, עַד שֶׁבּוֹדְקוֹ בְּדָבָר קָטָן.

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2. The Holy One Blessed is He does not give greatness to a man until He tests him with something small.


## Segment 48

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עַל־יְדֵי בִּלְבּוּל הַדַּעַת נִתְקַלְקֵל הַיִּרְאָה. גַּם עַל־יְדֵי בִּלְבּוּל הַדַּעַת מֶמְשַׁלְתּוֹ נוֹפֶלֶת.

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3. Through confusion of the mind, fear (of G-d) is ruined. Also through confusion of the mind, one's dominion falls.


## Segment 49

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עַל־יְדֵי זְרִיזוּת זוֹכֶה לִהְיוֹת רוֹעֶה נֶאֱמָן. וְסִימָן לַדָּבָר: לֵךְ אֶל נְ'מָ'לָ'ה' עָצֵל וּכְתִיב: מִשָּׁ'ם רוֹעֶ'ה אֶבֶ'ן יִשְׂרָאֵ'ל.

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4. Through zeal, one merits to be a faithful leader (lit. shepherd). A hint for this is in the passage, "Go to the ant, lazy one (Mishlei-Proverbs 6:6)", and it is also written "From there the shepherd of the stone of Israel (Bereshit 49:24)" (the end letters of the words in this passage spell "ant").


## Segment 50

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כְּשֶׁנּוֹתְנִין מָמוֹן לְהַשָּׂר בִּשְׁבִיל אֵיזֶהוּ הִתְמַנּוּת, שֶׁיַּעֲבִיר אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ וִימַנֶּה אוֹתוֹ, זֶהוּ כְּמוֹ כִּשּׁוּף.

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5. When one bribes an official to be appointed to a position, that someone else should be removed and he should be appointed, this is like witchcraft.


## Segment 51

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הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְהִרְהוּרֵי זְנוּת וּשְׁפִיכוּת־דָּמִים וּלָשׁוֹן הָרָע, הֵם בָּאִים עַל מִי שֶׁרָגִיל בִּנְדָרִים, אֲבָל נִתְבַּטְּלִים עַל־יְדֵי הַמַּנְהִיג שֶׁבָּעִיר, הַמְסַדֵּר הַגְּבִיּוֹת וְהַמִּסִּים עַל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְפִי עֶרְכּוֹ, שֶׁיּוּכַל לִסְבֹּל.

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6. Thoughts of idolatry, and promiscuous thoughts, and spilling blood, and slander come upon one who is accustomed to swearing oaths. However, they are annulled through the city's leader, who sets the collections and taxes on each person according to his worth, that he can bear.


## Segment 52

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כְּשֶׁאֵיזֶה רָשָׁע נִתְגַּדֵּל, אֲזַי קָשֶׁה לְחַדֵּשׁ אֵיזֶהוּ סְבָרָה בַּפּוֹסְקִים. גַּם דִּבְרֵי הַדַּיָּנִים אֵינָם נִשְׁמָעִים בְּאָזְנֵי הַבַּעֲלֵי־דִינִים.

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7. When an evil person becomes great, it is difficult to bring out a new explanation in the rulings of the authorities of the Halacha (Jewish law). Also, the words of judges are not heard (accepted/sensible) by the litigants.


## Segment 53

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אָדָם כָּשֵׁר צָרִיךְ לְהַקְטִין אֶת עַצְמוֹ, כְּשֶׁרוֹאֶה מֶמְשֶׁלֶת הָרָשָׁע.

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8. A kosher man must humble himself when he sees the sovereignty of an evildoer.


## Segment 54

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מִי שֶׁנּוֹטֵל שְׂרָרָה לְעַצְמוֹ, עַל־יְדֵי זֶה בִּתּוֹ נַעֲשֵׂית זוֹנָה.

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9. One who appropriates a position of authority for himself, through this his daughter becomes a prostitute.


## Segment 55

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מִי שֶׁמַּנִּיחַ צָרְכֵי צִבּוּר וְעוֹסֵק בְּצָרְכֵי עַצְמוֹ, כְּאִלּוּ לוֹקֵחַ שֹׁחַד.

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10. One who leaves the needs of the community and engages in his own needs, is as if he takes bribery.


## Segment 56

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עַל־יְדֵי וִדּוּי דְּבָרִים זוֹכֶה לְהִתְנַשְּׂאוּת.

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11. Through confession, one merits to superiority.


## Segment 57

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עַל־יְדֵי קְדֻשַּׁת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, הַהִתְנַשְּׂאוּת שֶׁל רָאשֵׁי הַדּוֹר בְּתֹקֶף וָעֹז, וְעַל־יְדֵי זֶה נֶחְשָׁב בְּעֵינֵי כֹל הַמִּצְוָה שֶׁל הַכְנָסַת אוֹרְחִים, וְעַל־יְדֵי זֶה הַלּוֹמְדִים זוֹכִים שֶׁהֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתָם.

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12. Through the sanctity of the blessed G-d's name, the rule of the leaders of the generation has full power and might, and through this the Mitzvah of hospitality is highly regarded in everyone's eyes, and through this those that study (the Torah) merit that the Halacha (final legal ruling on a matter of the Torah) is like them.