Rhymes on Moral Instruction
Translated by Hermann Gollancz
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The opening
RHYMES ON MORAL INSTRUCTION By RABBI HAI OF GREAT FAME
BE roused, my son, awake, and be on the alert, listen to instruction, reproof, and counsel!
Take up the song, and consider how to make it the rule of life. I have interwoven therein maxims and precepts as a guide to the memory of the diligent, and as a source of instruction to the younger ones from their youth. I have weighed it, guarding it as the apple of the eye; I have composed it in the most simple of language. See, I pray thee, to carry it out in its full measure, and thou shalt prosper if thou take hold of the right path.
Fear God, my son; this is the beginning of my speech. Arise and Hsten to my words, and let thy first daily service be to offer up prayer unto thy God.
It is incumbent on thee every morning on rising to give thanks unto Him Who supplieth thy wants; beseech continually the presence of God, and then He will fulfil all thy requests.
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About this edition
- The words
- Hermann Gollancz's English translation, copied word for word.
- Copied from
- Left out
- Other material that isn't the author's
- The title page and opening pages before chapter 1
- Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers
- A preface, foreword or afterword
- A half-title line (“RHYMES ON MORAL INSTRUCTION By rabbi HAI”) before the Hebrew text
- Page numbers and running heads from the printed pages, in 4 places
- The source website's menus, layout and notices
- A speck at the end of the scan read as characters (“ilJMIIIIi'”)
- The closing line “FINIS. COURAGE !” after the poem (house style: closing lines go)