Never eat or drink anything without making the appropriate blessings before and after with as much zeal as you can. Comprehend the meaning of the blessing. Cover your head when mentioning God’s Name, and close your eyes. When making a blessing or praying to God be not as it says, “With their mouths and lips they honored Me, but their hearts were distant from Me” (Isaiah 29:13).
Wash your hands before praying and eating. When you come from the bathroom, make the Asher Yotzar blessing, but do not make the blessing on washing the hands2The Rosh says that if one is about to say his Prayers, he should add the blessing Al Nitilas Yodoyim; but the Halacha is not like him, excepting in the morning before Shacharis..
Make fringes (Tzitzis) on the four corners of your garment in order that you remember God’s commandments, and in order that you sanctify yourself in all your doings. Act with modesty in the bathroom. When at home, remember that you will be held accountable for even light conversations between husband and wife. Do not accustom yourself to act frivolously, and put the fear of Heaven upon yourself. Do not gaze at a woman, even one who is unmarried. Place Mezuzos on all your doorposts.
Do not reveal the secrets of others. Even non-confidential matters, keep in the confines of your heart. If you again hear these same things from someone else, do not tell him that you have heard this before. You need not tell your wife everything, and do not assume that she will keep secrets.
Be heedful to pray at set times in the morning, afternoon and evening. Prepare yourself an hour before the time so that you can pray with intent. Be punctual, and be of the first ten in the Minyan. Do not speak idle talk in Shul. Make sure you are not without Tallis and Tefillin.
Weigh carefully each step you take. Be moderate with food and drink, and with all your attributes. Take the middle path and do not veer neither to the right or left. Stick to the truth. Deal honestly with people. Vigorously pursue peace and friendship between people.
Establish times for Torah before you eat and before you retire to bed at night. Speak Torah at your table. Instruct the members of your household to do right; train and caution them in accordance with the ways of the Torah. Let them not speak conceitedly. Warn them against speaking in a degrading and shameful manner. Remember, the first thing a person will be judged on when he arrives before the Heavenly Court is whether or not he established times for Torah.
Be as happy when you are rebuked as you would be if you found great spoils of war - for which you never have to pay. The wise man loves the one who admonishes him, for open reproof is better than concealed love, and it is pleasant for him.
Understand how things will end up before you begin them. Contemplate the loss of not performing a Mitzvah versus the reward for performing it, as well as the punishment for sinning against the reward for avoiding the sin. The wise man sees the consequences of his actions.
Do not rely on your own will and judgment. Listen to advice and accept reproof. Be quick to perform your tasks, and all God’s commandments. Above all, never think evil.
Run to the House of Prayer; never be late. Watch that you do not step into filth. Concentrate on your prayers and not on other matters. Be prompt to bless and glorify your Maker.
Do not speak mockingly or otherwise when the Chazan is praying. Be meticulous in answering Amen. Do not pray with soiled and impure hands or an unclean body, for your prayers will not be heard or accepted. Do not pray quickly nor swallow your words. Rather, have proper intent, and pray at ease, understand what you are saying, enunciating and slightly vocalizing each word.
Never forget that death can come suddenly and that there will be judgment before God. Do not forget your omnipotent Creator. Direct your entire will and hopes to Him. Imagine that He is standing before you at all times.
Do not perform any Mitzvah in order to receive a reward nor distance yourself from sin simply to avoid punishment from Him. Rather, serve God out of true love.
לח. מִכָּל מַאֲכָל אֲשֶּׁר יֵאָכֵל וּמִכָּל מַשְּׁקֶה אֲשֶּׁר יִשָּׁתֶה, אַל תִּהְיֶה בְּלֹא בְּרָכָה תְּחִלָּה וָסוֹף. וְכַוֵּן בָּהּ כַּאֲשֶּׁר תּוּכַל. וְכַסֵּה רֹאשְּׁךָ כְּשֶּׁתַּזְכִּיר אֶת ה', וְיָזְמוּ [נ''א ותסגור] עֵינֶיךָ. כִּי מִדֵּי דַּבְּרוֹ בוֹ, אַל תְּהִי כָּאָמוּר: ''בְּפִיו וּבִשְׂפָתָיו כִּבְּדוּנִי וְלִבּוֹ רִחַק מִמֶּנִּי'':
Never eat or drink anything without making the appropriate blessings before and after with as much zeal as you can. Comprehend the meaning of the blessing. Cover your head when mentioning God’s Name, and close your eyes. When making a blessing or praying to God be not as it says, “With their mouths and lips they honored Me, but their hearts were distant from Me” (Isaiah 29:13).
לט. נְטוֹל יָדֶיךָ לַתְּפִלָּה וְלַאֲכִילָה, וּבְעֵת צֵאתְךָ מִצְרָכֶיךָ בָּרֵךְ אֲשֶּׁר יָצַר, וְעַל נְטִילַת יָדַיִם לֹא תְּבָרֵךְ, אִם לֹא קִנַּחְתָּ אוֹ שִּׁפְשַּׁפְתָּ, וְתִרְצֶה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל מִיָּד אָז תִּתְפַּלֵּל [נ''א תברך] אֲשֶּׁר יָצַר וְעַל נְטִילַת יָדָיִם:
Wash your hands before praying and eating. When you come from the bathroom, make the Asher Yotzar blessing, but do not make the blessing on washing the hands2The Rosh says that if one is about to say his Prayers, he should add the blessing Al Nitilas Yodoyim; but the Halacha is not like him, excepting in the morning before Shacharis..
מ. גְּדִילִים תַּעֲשֶׂה לָךְ, עַל אַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת כְּסוּתְךָ. לְמַעַן תִּזְכּוֹר וְקַדֵּשּׁ עַצְמְךָ בְּכָל דְּבָרֶיךָ. וֶהֱוֵי צָנוּעַ בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא. וְעִם בֵּיתְךָ, כִּי אֲפִלּוּ שִׂיחָה קַלָּה שֶּׁבֵּין אִישּׁ לְאִשְּׁתּוֹ, עָתִיד לִיתֵּן עָלֶיהָ אֶת הַדִּין, וְאַל תִּנְהַג עַצְמְךָ בְּקַלּוּת רֹאשּׁ. וִיהִי מוֹרָא שָּׁמַיִם עָלֶיךָ, וְהִשָּׁמֵר מִלְּהִסְתַּכֵּל בְּאִשָּׁה וַאֲפִלּוּ פְּנוּיָה. וּמְזוּזוֹת עַל פִּתְחֵי בֵיתְךָ אַל יֶחְסָרוּ:
Make fringes (Tzitzis) on the four corners of your garment in order that you remember God’s commandments, and in order that you sanctify yourself in all your doings. Act with modesty in the bathroom. When at home, remember that you will be held accountable for even light conversations between husband and wife. Do not accustom yourself to act frivolously, and put the fear of Heaven upon yourself. Do not gaze at a woman, even one who is unmarried. Place Mezuzos on all your doorposts.
מא. סוֹד אַחֵר אַל תְּגַל. גַּם אֶת הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶּׁר יְדַבְּרוּ לְפָנֶיךָ שֶּׁלֹּא עַל דֶּרֶךְ סוֹד, טוֹמְנֵהוּ בְּקִירוֹת לִבֶּךָ. [נ''א טמנם בקרב לבך] גַּם אִם תִּשְּׁמְעֶנּוּ מֵאַחֵר, אַל תֹּאמַר כְּבָר שָּׁמַעְתִּי זֶה. וּמִשּׁוֹכֶבֶת חֵקֶיךָ שְּׁמוֹר פִּתְחֵי פִּיךָ:
Do not reveal the secrets of others. Even non-confidential matters, keep in the confines of your heart. If you again hear these same things from someone else, do not tell him that you have heard this before. You need not tell your wife everything, and do not assume that she will keep secrets.
מב. עֶרֶב וָבֹקֶר וְצָהֳרַיִם שְּׁמוֹר הָעִתִּים הַקְּבוּעִים לַתְּפִלָּה, וּפְתַח לִבְּךָ שָּׁעָה אַחַת קוֹדֶם תְּפִלָּה. וֶהֱוֵי זָהִיר שֶּׁתִּהְיֶה מֵעֲשָׂרָה הָרִאשּׁוֹנִים. וְאַל תְּדַבֵּר שִׂיחָה בְּטֵלָה בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת. וּתְפִלִּין עַל רֹאשְּׁךָ וְעַל זְרֹעֲךָ אַל יֶחְסָרוּ:
Be heedful to pray at set times in the morning, afternoon and evening. Prepare yourself an hour before the time so that you can pray with intent. Be punctual, and be of the first ten in the Minyan. Do not speak idle talk in Shul. Make sure you are not without Tallis and Tefillin.
מג. פַּלֵּס מַעְגַּל רַגְלֶיךָ, לְיַשֵּׁר עַצְמְךָ בְּדֶרֶךְ בֵּינוֹנִי בְּמַאֲכָל וּבְמִשְׁתֶּה, וּבְכָל מִדּוֹתֶיךָ. וְאַל תֵּט יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל. וּבְדִבּוּרֶיךָ וּבְהַסְבָּרַת פָּנִים, עִם הָאֱמוּנָה. וּרְדוֹף אַחַר הַשָּׁלוֹם:
Weigh carefully each step you take. Be moderate with food and drink, and with all your attributes. Take the middle path and do not veer neither to the right or left. Stick to the truth. Deal honestly with people. Vigorously pursue peace and friendship between people.
מד. קְבַע עִתִּים לַתּוֹרָה, קוֹדֶם אֲכִילָה וּשְּׁכִיבָה, וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם עַל שֻּׁלְחָנֶךָ. וְהִזְהַרְתָּ בָּם אַנְשֵּׁי בֵּיתְךָ לְהַדְרִיכָם עַל פִּי הַתּוֹרָה, בְּכָל הַדְּבָרִים הַצְרִיכִים אַזְהָרָה. לִשְׁמוֹר פִּיהֶם מִלְּהִתְהַלֵּל, [נ''א מלהתחלל] כִּי תְּחִלַּת דִּינוֹ שֶּׁל אָדָם קָבַעְתָּ עִתִּים לַתּוֹרָה:
Establish times for Torah before you eat and before you retire to bed at night. Speak Torah at your table. Instruct the members of your household to do right; train and caution them in accordance with the ways of the Torah. Let them not speak conceitedly. Warn them against speaking in a degrading and shameful manner. Remember, the first thing a person will be judged on when he arrives before the Heavenly Court is whether or not he established times for Torah.
מה. שְׂמַח בְּשָּׁמְעֲךָ תּוֹכַחַת, כְּמוֹצֵא שָּׁלָל רָב. וְהוֹכַח לְחָכָם וְיֶאֱהָבֶךָ. כִּי טוֹבָה תּוֹכַחַת מְגֻלָּה מֵאַהֲבָה מְסוּתָּרֶת, וְלַמּוֹכִיחִים יִנְעָם:
Be as happy when you are rebuked as you would be if you found great spoils of war - for which you never have to pay. The wise man loves the one who admonishes him, for open reproof is better than concealed love, and it is pleasant for him.
מו. תְּחִלַּת מַעֲשֶׂיךָ הַבֵּט סוֹפָם, וֶהֱוֵי מְחַשֵּׁב הֶפְסֵד מִצְוָה כְּנֶגֶד שְׂכָרָהּ, וּשְׂכַר עֲבֵרָה כְּנֶגֶד הֶפְסֵדָה. כִּי הֶחָכָם עֵינָיו בְּרֹאשּׁוֹ:
Understand how things will end up before you begin them. Contemplate the loss of not performing a Mitzvah versus the reward for performing it, as well as the punishment for sinning against the reward for avoiding the sin. The wise man sees the consequences of his actions.
מז. הִזָּהֵר שֶּׁלֹּא תִּסְמוֹךְ בִּלְבָבְךָ, וּשְּׁמַע עֵצָה וְקַבֵּל מוּסָר, וְתִּהְיֶה זָרִיז לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל מַה שֶּׁמֻּטָּל עָלֶיךָ לַעֲשׂוֹת, וּמִכָּל מִשְׁמָר נְצוֹר לִבֶּךָ:
Do not rely on your own will and judgment. Listen to advice and accept reproof. Be quick to perform your tasks, and all God’s commandments. Above all, never think evil.
מח. אַל תָּקוּם מִמִּטָּתְךָ כְּאִישּׁ עָצֵל, כִּי אִם בִּזְרִיזוּת כְּדֵי לַעֲבוֹד לְיוֹצְרֶךָ:
Do not accustom yourself to arise from your bed lazy. Rather, rise promptly in order to serve your Maker.
מט. אַל תְּאַחֵר לָרוּץ אֶל בֵּית הַתְּפִלָּה. וְשָּׁמַרְתָּ רַגְלֶיךָ פֶּן יִהְיוּ מְטֻנָּפוֹת. אַל תָּשִׂים לִבְּךָ אֲחוֹרַנִּית בִּשְּׁעַת הַתְּפִלָּה, וְהִתְכַּוֵּין לְבָרֵךְ לְיוֹצְרֶךָ:
Run to the House of Prayer; never be late. Watch that you do not step into filth. Concentrate on your prayers and not on other matters. Be prompt to bless and glorify your Maker.
נ. אַל תְּדַבֵּר בְּלַעֲגֵי שָׂפָה וּבְלָשּׁוֹן אֲחֶרֶת, כָּל עֵת שֶּׁהַחַזָּן מִתְפַּלֵּל, וְתַעֲנֶה אָמֵן:
Do not speak mockingly or otherwise when the Chazan is praying. Be meticulous in answering Amen. Do not pray with soiled and impure hands or an unclean body, for your prayers will not be heard or accepted. Do not pray quickly nor swallow your words. Rather, have proper intent, and pray at ease, understand what you are saying, enunciating and slightly vocalizing each word.
נא. אַל תִּנְשֶּׁה פְּגִיעַת הַמָּוֶת שֶּׁתָּבוֹא פִּתְאוֹם, וְתִזְכּוֹר מַעֲמַד הַדִּין:
Never forget that death can come suddenly and that there will be judgment before God. Do not forget your omnipotent Creator. Direct your entire will and hopes to Him. Imagine that He is standing before you at all times.
נב. אַל תִּתְעַסֵּק בְּמִצְוָה כְּדֵי לְקַבֵּל פְּרָס, וְאַל תִּרְחַק מִן הָעֲבֵרוֹת מִפְּנֵי הָעוֹנֶשּׁ, רַק עֲבוֹד מֵאַהֲבָה:
Do not perform any Mitzvah in order to receive a reward nor distance yourself from sin simply to avoid punishment from Him. Rather, serve God out of true love.