The Laughable Stories Collected by Mar Gregory John

PROFITABLE SAYINGS OF THE HEBREW SAGES. 33
CXXXIX. Another sage said, "Do not despise a
''man of mean appearance and of humble garb, lest
"perchance some excellent quality be concealed and
"hidden within him although thou knowest it not.
a CXL. Another sage ordered his son, saying, "If thou
"art brought to poverty do not make it known to thy
"neighbours, lest thou be despised in their sight and it
"be grievous unto thee."
* CXLI. Another sage said, "The soul which is deprived
"of wisdom is dead; but through doctrine it becometh
"alive, even as doth the waste and barren land by
"rain."
^^ CXLII. Another sage said, "The forgiveness of a
"fault is what is obligatory on the man of understanding."
CXLIII. Another sage said, "Liberality is the cloak ^
"of defects."
CXLIV. Another sage said, "The fact that a man
"hasteneth to behave nobly saveth him from penitence.*'
CXLV. Another sage said, "Hardihood is the vice ^
"of youth even though it driveth it to virtue."
CXVI. Another sage said, "By the examination of^^
"the deeds vices are detected."
CXLVII. Another sage said, "The confession of his ^^
"folly by the sinner is an entreaty for forgiveness
"which shall be accepted, and his repentance is his
"apology."
CXLVIII. Another sage said, " Place not thy confi- ^
"dence in a friend who is easily made angry, even
"though he be hidden within much goodness."
CXLIX. Another sage said, "Greediness is a sister-^
**unto prodigality and it inviteth it [to come]."
CL. Another sage said, " Cast not out from thy heart
"the fear of the king, even though thou be a constant