## Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners

###### Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 1
[Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/On%20Discernment%20and%20Manners/r/1)

לא יקרא אדם חכם / נזהר מדבר בו נחשל,
אך יקרא אדם חכם / נזהר טרם יהיה נכשל.

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
Not in the warning by experience bought, doth highest wisdom lie; but to be forewarned, and not to fall, this is true wisdom.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 2
[Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/On%20Discernment%20and%20Manners/r/2)

אנוש משכיל ולבו אל ימינו, אשר יכיר לבין הוות ונמנע,
ומתנחם במה אין בו יכולת, בכל עניין יהי שוקט ולא נע.

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
The man of understanding who hath his heart directed well, discerneth that which is far from right, and keepeth himself therefrom; and knowing, though regretfully, in what his strength is weak, he resteth content, and moveth not beyond the limits of his power.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 3
[Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/On%20Discernment%20and%20Manners/r/3)

אין איש שלם באמונתו / עד תשתלם הכרתו,
ובעת יפתח פיו על דבר / יכיר לבא עד תכליתו.

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
No man's faith can be secure, whose perception is not sure; he will not open his mouth to speak, if he doth not understand the trend.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 4
[Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/On%20Discernment%20and%20Manners/r/4)

היה מכיר זמניך, / ושומרה את לשונך,
והתעסק בענייניך, / והבט מה לפניך.

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
Abide thy opportunity, and keep thy tongue on guard; give attention to thy subject, and consider well thy task.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 5
[Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/On%20Discernment%20and%20Manners/r/5)

כתב אדם וספרתו ראיה עלי שכלו ובינתו ורוחו,
ומנחתו תהורה על נדיבות לבבו ועצת נפשו שלוחו.

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
In a clever man's writing and talk thou wilt see a proof of his faculties, of his spirit and mind; so also a gift, and the way the gift comes, will show a man's nature, his motive, and thought.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 6
[Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/On%20Discernment%20and%20Manners/r/6)

השמרה מכל טובים בנבראים, ופחד מאד מכל רעים וחטאים.

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
Take care of the good things found in creation; beware of the evil and bad.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 7
[Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/On%20Discernment%20and%20Manners/r/7)

אמת גוף (בין) אנוש לעד / ולבו בעלי מומים,
שניהם בעלי מומים, / ואיכה יהיה תמים.

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
In truth, man's body and soul have taints in them both; why expect, then, that either be perfect or whole?


###### Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 8
[Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/On%20Discernment%20and%20Manners/r/8)

אם תהיה מושל עלי עמים, התנהגה עמם בטוב להם,
תבא ותגיע לאהבתם, תיקר ותכבד בעיניהם,
תמשוך לבבותם בלי חבל, תקנם בגופותם ונכסיהם.

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
Wouldst thou o'er people rule with delight, deal with them kindly, and not with brute force; if respect and all honour thou wouldst from them win, then see that thou fail not their love to obtain. If thou but draw their hearts with a thin silken cord, their bodies and chattels thou'lt gain without fail.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 9
[Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/On%20Discernment%20and%20Manners/r/9)

העת תהי מושל בכבוד ובנחת תהי מושל נדיב עם,
יהיו כחפצך ועל פיך כל מחנם יהיה ומסעם,
אכן נבלים ואוילי עם, לא תמשלה בהם כי אם בהכניעם.

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
As long as thou rulest with decency and ease, thou wilt sway the good folk, the best among men; at thy word of command they'll encamp, or move on; but if thou wouldst know how with the baser and rougher to act, I say, thou wilt only subdue them by keeping them under the heel.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 10
[Shekel HaKodesh, On Discernment and Manners 10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/On%20Discernment%20and%20Manners/r/10)

טרם אכיר מעלת כל איש, עלי להכיר מעלת גוי,
ולהתנהג עמם בטוב, אמנה בתיו מניין ג ו י.

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
Before I can gauge another man's worth, it behoves me to know *my* own *back-bone*¹ =19, the number of lines in this section.] and strength, and to conduct myself towards men with a kindness that alone is able to win.

footnotes:
¹ ["My back"