Rabbi chanina ben dosa omer. Kol sheyir'at chet'o kodemet lechachemato, chachemato mitkayemet. Vechol shechachemato kodemet leyir'at chet'o, ein chachemato mitkayemet. Hu hayah omer, kol shemma'asav merubbin mechachemato, chachemato mitkayemet. Vechol shechachemato merubbah mimma'asav, ein chachemato mitkayemet.
Chapter 3 / Mishnah 9 - Pirkei Avot translated into english
Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa said: anyone whose fear of sin precedes his wisdom, his wisdom is enduring, but anyone whose wisdom precedes his fear of sin, his wisdom is not enduring. He [also] used to say: anyone whose deeds exceed his wisdom, his wisdom is enduring, but anyone whose wisdom exceeds his deeds, his wisdom is not enduring.
R. Chanina ben Dossa says: If one's fear of sin precedes his wisdom [I have heard (this to mean) that in his mind his fear precedes his wisdom, that he thinks in his heart: "I will learn in order to be a fearer of sins," as per "The beginning of thought is the end of act"], his wisdom endures. [For his wisdom brings him to what his heart desires, and he enjoys it (his wisdom)]. But if one's wisdom precedes his fear of sin [i.e., if he does not learn in order to do, since his heart does not prompt him to be a fearer of sin], his wisdom does not endure. For since it (his wisdom) prevents him from following the inclination of his heart, he hates it and despises it and leaves it.] He was wont to say: If one's acts are more than his wisdom [(Here, one who is zealous in the performance of positive commandments is intended, whereas above, in respect to one whose fear of sin precedes his wisdom, one who is watchful of negative commandments is intended)], his wisdom endures. But if one's wisdom is more than his acts, his wisdom does not endure.
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