Texts in Conversation
Psalm 128 promises that those who enjoy the fruit of their own labor will be content. Rabbinic tradition in Pirkei Avot draws on this to define the rich person as the one who is content no matter their circumstance.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Psalms 128:2
Hebrew Bible
1 A song of ascents. How blessed is every one of the Lord’s loyal followers, each one who keeps his commands. 2 You will eat what you worked so hard to grow. You will be blessed and secure. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the inner rooms of your house;your children will be like olive branches,as they sit all around your table.
Pirkei Avot 4:1
Mishnah
Rabbinic
1 Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as it is said: “From all who taught me have I gained understanding” (Psalms 119:99). Who is mighty? He who subdues his [evil] inclination, as it is said: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot, as it is said: “You shall enjoy the fruit of your labors, you shall be happy and you shall prosper” (Psalms 128:2) “You shall be happy” in this world, “and you shall prosper” in the world to come. Who is he that is honored? He who honors his fellow human beings as it is said: “For I honor those that honor Me, but those who spurn Me shall be dishonored” (I Samuel 2:30). 2 Ben Azzai said: Be quick in performing a minor commandment as in the case of a major one, and flee from transgression; For one commandment leads to another commandment, and transgression leads to another transgression; For the reward for performing a commandment is another commandment and the reward for committing a transgression is a transgression.
Date: 190-230 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Ben Zoma said: “Who is wise? The one who learns from every man, as it is said, ‘From all my teachers have I gained understanding’ (Psalms 119:99). Who is mighty? The one who conquers his evil inclination, as it is said: ‘He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city’ (Proverbs 16:32). Who is wealthy? The one who rejoices in his portion, as it is said, ‘You shall enjoy the fruit of your labors; you shall be happy and it shall be well with you’ (Psalms 128:2). ‘You shall be happy’ – in this world, ‘and it shall be well with you’ – in the world to come. Who is honored? The one who honors others, as it is written: ‘for those who honor me I will honor and those who despise me will be lightly esteemed’ (1 Samuel 2:30).” ..."
Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, Daniel
The More Torah, The More Life: A Christian Commentary on Mishnah Avot
(p. 195) Peeters, 2018
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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