Mishnah Tractate Avot

1. Moses received the Torah from Sinai, and handed it down to Joshua, and Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the prophets, and the prophets delivered it to the men of the Great Synagogue. They said three things, “Be deliberate in judgment; raise up many disciples; and make a fence about the Torah”.

2. Simon, the Just, was of the last survivors of the Great Synagogue. He used to say, “Upon three things the world rests: upon the Torah, upon the Temple service, and upon the doing of acts of kindness”.

3. Antigonus of Soko received (the tradition) from Simon, the Just. He used to say, “Be not like hirelings who work for their master for the sake of receiving recompense; but be like servants who minister to their master without any thought of receiving a reward; and let the fear of Heaven be upon you.”

4. Jose, the son of Joezer, of Zeredah, and Jose, the son of Jochanan, of Jerusalem received (the tradition) from them. Jose, the son of Joezer, of Zeredah said, “Let thy house be a meeting-place for the wise; cover thyself with the dust of their feet, and drink in their words with thirst.”