The Numerical Sayings

7. [There are] seven things [characteristic] in a clod, and seven in a wise man:

• A wise man does not speak before one who is greater than he in wisdom.

• He does not break into his fellow’s speech.

• He is not hasty to answer.

• He asks what is relevant, and he answers to the point.

• He speaks of the first [point] first, and of the last [point] last.

• Concerning that which he has not heard, he says: I have not heard.

• He acknowledges the truth.

The reverse of these [are characteristic] in a clod. [ . . . ]

10. There are four types of character in human beings:

• One who says: “Mine is mine, and yours is yours.” This is a commonplace type, and some say this is a Sodom type of character.

• [One who says:] “Mine is yours and yours is mine” is an unlearned person [’am ha-arets];

• [One who says:] “Mine is yours and yours is yours” is a pious person.

• [One who says:] “Mine is mine and yours is mine” is a wicked person.

11. There are four kinds of temperaments:

• Easy to become angry, and easy to be appeased: his gain disappears in his loss.

• Hard to anger and hard to be appeased: his loss disappears in his gain.

• Hard to anger and easy to be appeased: a pious person.

• Easy to anger and hard to be appeased: a wicked person. [ . . . ]

13. There are four types of charity givers:

• He who wishes to give but that others should not give: his eye is evil to that which belongs to others.

• He who wishes that others should give but that he himself should not give: his eye is evil toward that which is his own.

• He who desires that he himself should give and that others should give: he is a pious man.

• He who desires that he himself should not give and that others too should not give: he is a wicked man. [ . . . ]

15. There are four types among those who sit before the sages: a sponge, a funnel, a strainer, and a sieve.

• A sponge, soaks up everything.

• A funnel takes in at one end and lets out at the other.

• A strainer lets out the wine and retains the lees.

• A sieve lets out the coarse meal and retains the choice flour.

16. All love that depends on a thing, [when the] thing ceases, [the] love ceases; and [all love] that does not depend on anything will never cease. What is an example of love that depended on something? Such was the love of Amnon for Tamar [see 2 Samuel 13]. And what is an example of love that did not depend on anything? Such was the love of David and Jonathan [see 1 Samuel 18].

Adapted from the translation ofJoshua Kulp.