Be not wicked in your own sight

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Be not wicked in your own sight

Be not wicked in your own sight

Do not adopt for yourself a self-image of a wicked person, or a low self-image as a bad person, for then you may act according to this image in your own eyes. Or: distance yourself from wicked deeds even when you are alone and no one sees you.

("Rabbi Shimon says: Be careful with the recitation of Shema and with prayer. When you pray, do not make your prayer fixed, but [offer it as] mercy and supplication... and be not wicked in your own sight" – Avot 2:13)

Translation

Expression (Hebrew)

אַל תְּהִי רָשָׁע בִּפְנֵי עַצְמְךָ

Definition (Hebrew)

אַל תְּאַמֵּץ לְעַצְמְךָ דִּמּוּי עַצְמִי שֶׁל רֶשַׁע, אוֹ דִּמּוּי עַצְמִי נָמוּךְ שֶׁל אָדָם רַע, שֶׁאָז אַתָּה עָלוּל לִנְהֹג בְּהֶתְאֵם לַדִּמּוּי שֶׁלְּךָ בְּעֵינֶיךָ. אוֹ: הִתְרַחֵק מִמַּעֲשֵׂי רִשְׁעוּת גַּם כְּשֶׁאַתָּה לְבַד וְאֵין מִי שֶׁרוֹאֶה אוֹתְךָ.

("רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר הוֹי זָהִיר בְּקִרְיַת שְׁמַע וּבַתְּפֵלָה וּכְשֶׁאַתָּה מִתְפַּלֵּל אַל תַּעַשׂ תִּפְלָתֵךְ קֶבַע אֶלָּא רַחֲמִים וְתַחֲנוּנִים...וְאַל תְּהִי רֶשַׁע בִּפְנֵי עַצְמְךָ"- אָבוֹת ב יג)

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