## Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh Chapter 6

###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:1
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:1)

קג. אַל תְּפַתֶּה אֶת חֲבֵרְךָ בְּשִׂפְתֵי חֲלָקוֹת וּבַחֲנִיפוּת, וְאַל תְּדַבֵּר בְּלֵב וָלֵב:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do not inveigle your fellow man with flattery. Never say anything you do not mean.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:2
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:2)

**קד.** אַל תַּכְעִיס [נ''א תונה] לְשּׁוּם נָכְרִי כִי אֵין נָכְרִי שֶּׁאֵין לוֹ שָּׁעָה וְעֶבְרָתָם שְּׁמוּרָה נֶצַח:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Never anger a Gentile, for every Gentile has his hour; his memory is long, and he keeps his anger forever.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:3
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:3)

**קה.** אַל תִּתְחַבֵּר לְאָדָם רָע וְחוֹטֵא וְכַעֲסָן וּכְסִיל פֶּן תָּבִיא כְּלִמּוֹת עָלֶיךָ:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Never join with an evil person or one who is sinful or one who is angry or irate or a fool. For one day you will be shamed by them.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:4
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:4)

**קו.** אַל תַּעֲלֶה בְּדַעְתְּךָ לְנַצֵחַ אֶת הֶחָכָם, כִּי לֹא תַּרְבֶּה עַל חָכְמָתְךָ חָכְמָה:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do not even think that you can best a wise Torah scholar. You will not get any cleverer for trying to do so, nor will this result in your being considered a greater scholar.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:5
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:5)

**קז.** אַל תְּהִי קַפְּדָן לְדָבָר מוּעָט נֶגֶד שּׁוּם אָדָם, פֶּן תְּלַקֵּט שׂוֹנְאִים עַל חִנָּם:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do not be pedantic and petty with other people about every little thing they do. Doing so will result in accruing needless enemies.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:6
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:6)

**קח.** אַל תְּהִי לָהוּט לָדַעַת הַסְּתָרִים שֶּׁבֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ וְדָבָר הַמְּכֻסֶּה מִמְּךָ:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Make no effort to learn about other people’s secrets or things which have been hidden from you.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:7
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:7)

**קט.** אַל תַּעַשׂ בַּסֵּתֶר מַה שֶּׁתִּתְבַּיֵּשּׁ בְּגָלוּי, וְאַל תֹּאמַר מִי רוֹאֵנִי:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do nothing in private for which you would be humiliated if done in public. Never ask, “Who sees me?”


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:8
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:8)

**קי.** אַל תַּחְשּׁוֹב עָוֹן לְמִי שֶּׁיָּבוֹא לְהִתְנַצֵל לְפָנֶיךָ אִם אֱמֶת וְאִם שֶּׁקֶר:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Think no evil of the one who comes to apologize to you, regardless if he is telling the truth or lying.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:9
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:9)

**קיא.** אַל תִּסְמוֹךְ לְיַד מַתְּנַת בָּשָׂר וָדָם, וְתַעֲבוֹד לְבַקִּשּׁ מְזוֹנוֹתֶיךָ:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Never rely on receiving other people’s gifts, for they are only human beings⁹. Work for your sustenance.

footnotes:
⁹ They may not be able to fulfill their promise to give you the gift and you will be left wanting.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:10
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:10)

**קיב.** אַל יְהִי מָמוֹן שֶּׁלְּךָ חָבִיב עָלֶיךָ יוֹתֵר מִגּוּפְךָ, כְּמוֹ לַעֲבוֹר עַל הַמֶּכֶס וְלָלֶכֶת יְחִידִי:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Never make your money more important for yourself than your general well-being as, for example, by putting yourself in danger by cheating on your taxes or traveling clandestinely alone.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:11
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:11)

**קיג.** אַל תִּתֵּן בִּלְבָבְךָ קִנְאָה שֶּׁזּוֹ הִיא חוֹלָה רָעָה שֶּׁאֵין לָהּ רְפוּאָה: במהדורת התוי''ט אין תקנה קי''ד כלל. הוספנו התקנה עפ''י כת''י:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Never be envious. This is a terrible, incurable illness.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:12
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:12)

**קיד.** אַל תְּהִי רָגִיל לֹא בִּשְּׁבוּעָה וְלֹא בִּנְדָרִים כִּי בַּעֲוֹן נְדָרִים בָּנִים מֵתִים:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do not make vowing a habit, even for a true matter, for children die because of false oaths.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:13
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:13)

**קטו.** אַל תַּרְגִּיל לִשָּׁבַע עַל גּוּפְךָ וַאֲפִלּוּ עַל דְּבַר אֱמֶת:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do not be accustomed to swearing by your life, even for a true matter.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:14
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:14)

**קטז.** אַל תְּאַחֵר לַעֲשׂוֹת תְּשּׁוּבָה שְּׁלֵמָה, וּלְבַקֵּשּׁ רְפוּאָה לְחוֹלִי נַפְשֶּׁךָ:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Never delay in making total repentance nor tarry in seeking emotional, spiritual or religious help.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:15
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:15)

**קיז.** אַל תַּעֲמוֹל לָרוּחַ, וְאַל תִּשְּׁמַע דְּבָרִים בְּטֵלִים:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do not occupy yourself with useless activities. Listen not to nonsense.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:16
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:16)

**קיח.** אַל תְּכַנֶּה שֵּׁם רָע [נ''א לחברך] כִּי הַמְכַנֶּה שֵּׁם [נ''א רע] לַחֲבֵרוֹ אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Never call anyone by a derogatory or offensive nickname; and don’t invent one for someone. For the one who does so has no place in the World to Come.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:17
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:17)

**קיט.** אַל תִּבְטַח בְּעָשְּׁרְךָ, כִּי הַבּוֹטֵחַ בְּעָשְּׁרוֹ מְלַקִּט שׂוֹנְאִים, וְיִכָּשֵּׁל תַּחַת שׂוֹנְאָיו:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do not trust in your own wealth, for anyone who trusts in his money accumulates enemies, and will falter and collapse because of them.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:18
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:18)

**קכ.** אַל תְּהִי סַרְבָּן אֶל אַנְשֵּׁי עִירְךָ, לְבַטֵּל רְצוֹנְךָ מִפְּנֵי רְצוֹן אֲחֵרִים:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do not make it a habit to oppose your neighbors or fellow citizens and communal leaders. Sublimate your will to theirs.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:19
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:19)

**קכא.** אַל תַּרְגִּיל עַצְמְךָ לֶאֱכוֹל חוּץ מִבֵּיתְךָ, עִם קִבּוּץ הַרְבֵּה שֶּׁלֹּא לִסְעוּדַת מִצְוָה:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do not make it a habit to eat out of your home with large groups of people other than for purposes of a Mitzvah.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:20
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:20)

**קכב.** אַל תְּשַּׁבֵּר [נ''א תשכר] גּוּפְךָ לְהִשְּׁתַּכֵּר מִיַּיִן, פֶּן תִּהְיֶה מְגֻנֶּה וּתְנַבֵּל אֶת פִּיךָ וְתִתְחָרֵט:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do not become accustomed to getting drunk. You might act foolishly or speak foul-mouthed, and then regret what you have done.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:21
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:21)

**קכג.** אַל תִּכְעֹס בְּאִשְּׁתְּךָ, וְאִם רִחַקְתָּ אוֹתָהּ בִּשְׂמאֹל קָרֵב אוֹתָהּ בְּיָמִין בְּלֹא אִיחוּר:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Never be angry with your wife. If you pushed her away with your left hand, draw her near energetically with your right, and without delay.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:22
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:22)

**קכד.** אַל תְּבַזֶּה אֶת אִשְּׁתְּךָ וְכַבֵּד אוֹתָהּ, וּתְסִירֶנָּה מִן הַחֵטְא:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Never humiliate your wife. Rather, honor her and, by so doing, she will avoid sin.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:23
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:23](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:23)

**קכה.** אַל תְּהִי רָגִיל לֵישֵּׁב עִם הַלֵּצִים פְּחוּתֵי הַנֶּפֶשּׁ פֶּן יַחֲטִיאוּךָ:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do not make it your habit to hang around with mockers and lowlifes lest they draw you into sin.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:24
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:24](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:24)

**קכו.** אַל תִּתְעַצֵל לְבַקֵּשּׁ חָכְמָה, וּלְיַסֵּר אֶת חֲבֵרְךָ בְּסֵתֶר וְדֶרֶךְ כָּבוֹד:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do not be lazy in pursuing wisdom nor slow in respectfully rebuking your friend in private.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:25
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:25](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:25)

**קכז.** אַל תְּדַבֵּר בְּלֹא עִתּוֹ וּבְדָבָר שֶּׁאֵין בּוֹ תּוֹעֶלֶת, וּשְּׁמוֹר פִּתְחֵי פִיךָ:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Speak only when the time is right and never say anything which has no benefit. Simply, scrupulously watch what you say.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:26
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:26](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:26)

**קכח.** אַל תְּדַבֵּר עִם מְהוֹלָל וּמְשֻּׁגָּע, שֶּׁלֹּא יְקַבֵּל דְּבָרֶיךָ וִיבַזֶּה אוֹתָם:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Never join with an evil person or one who is sinful or one who is angry or irate or a fool. For one day you will be shamed by them.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:27
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:27](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:27)

**קכט.** אַל תְּהִי כְּפוּי טוֹבָה, וְכַבֵּד כָּל מִי שֶּׁפָּתַח לְךָ פֶּתַח לְבַקִּשּׁ דֵּי סִפּוּקְךָ:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Do not be oblivious to the good that others do for you. Acknowledge even those who do something as simple as opening a door for you⁷, which you surely could have done on your own.

footnotes:
⁷ Train your children to acknowledge other peoples’ kindnesses by always saying “thank you” or by making some other obvious gesture such as nodding or waving in appreciation to a driver who stopped for them at a crosswalk. The very first thing we do when we awake each morning is say the very words “Modeh Ani” thanking God for returning our souls to our quiescent bodies. Hakaras Hatov is fundamental to Torah Im Derech Eretz. - RB


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:28
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:28](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:28)

**קל.** אַל תּוֹצִיא מִפִּיךָ דְּבַר שֶּׁקֶר וְכָזָב, וְנֶאֱמָן לְכָל אָדָם וַאֲפִלּוּ לְנָכְרִי:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Never utter a lie or speak deceitfully. Be trustworthy with everyone, Jew and Gentile alike.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:29
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:29](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:29)

**קלא.** אַל תִּתְעַצֵל לְהַקְדִּים שָּׁלוֹם לְכָל אָדָם, וַאֲפִלּוּ לְנָכְרִי מִפְּנֵי דַרְכֵי שָּׁלוֹם:

**Orchot Chayim, trans. Reuven Brauner, 2014:**
Make an effort to be first in the saying of Shalom to everyone, Jew and Gentile alike, because of peace.


###### Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:30
[Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh 6:30](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Orchot%20Chaim%20L%27HaRosh/r/6:30)

**קלב.** אַל תַּרְגִּיל עַצְמְךָ לַעֲמוֹד, כִּי אִם אֵצֶל חָכָם, וּשְּׁמַע וְהַאֲזִין דְּבָרָיו: