Pirkei Avos 4

(1) Ben Zoma said:Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as it is said: “From all who taught me have I gained understanding” (Psalms 119:99). Who is mighty? He who subdues his [evil] inclination, as it is said: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot, as it is said: “You shall enjoy the fruit of your labors, you shall be happy and you shall prosper” (Psalms 128:2) “You shall be happy” in this world, “and you shall prosper” in the world to come. Who is he that is honored? He who honors his fellow human beings as it is said: “For I honor those that honor Me, but those who spurn Me shall be dishonored” (I Samuel 2:30).

And now let us return to the matter of Joy. For he who believes with a complete heart and trusts in the help of the Rock (God) will always be happy and bear everything — just as a sick person eats bitter medicines in order to be healed. And he who bears problems willingly is free from the worry of the world. The one who bears all things willingly is satisfied with the little he has, for he says, "Whatever the Creator has decreed for me is enough for me."

Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Aivu: A person does not leave the world having achieved even half of his desire; rather, if he has one hundred he wishes to turn them into two hundred. If he has two hundred, he wishes to turn them into four hundred.

And now look and see how Joy includes everything! For every man who worries about the material things of this world has no rest and is always planning how to make money, and he is never satisfied with what God has apportioned to him. Therefore, the one who rejoices in his portion is rich even though he be poor, for he rejoices in the Lord who is his portion and inheritance. And so it is written : "I have said, 'My portion is the Lord' " (Ps. 119:57). And so he says : "Let the heart of them that seek the Lord rejoice!" (Ibid. 105:3).

One who trusts in G-d, if he has wealth, will be quick to fulfill his monetary obligations to G-d and to men with a willing and generous spirit. If he does not have wealth, he will consider that lack of wealth to be among the favors of G-d to him, because he is exempt from the monetary obligations to G-d and men which wealth brings, and he is spared from the mental distraction of protecting and managing it, as one of the pious used to say: "may G-d save me from dispersion of the mind". They would ask him "what is dispersion of the mind?" He would answer: "to own property at the head of every river and the center of every town." And this is what our sages referred to in saying: "the more possessions, the more worry" (Avos 2:7), and they said: "who is wealthy? He who is content with what he has" (Avos 4:1).

The soul of every living thing shall bless Your Name, Adonoy, our God; and the spirit of all flesh shall glorify and exalt Your mention, our King, continually. From world to world, You are Almighty; and besides You we have no king, redeemer, or deliverer, [who] liberates, rescues, maintains and responds, and is compassionate in all times of trouble and distress. We have no king, helper, supporter but You. God of the first and last [generations], God of all created things, Master of all begotten things, Who is extolled with a multitude of praises, Who conducts His world with kindliness and His creatures with compassion. Behold, Adonoy neither slumbers nor sleeps. arouses those who sleep and awakens those who slumber, Resurrector of the dead, and Healer of the sick, Who gives sight to the blind, and He gives speech to the mute, and releases the imprisoned. He supports those who have fallen and straightens the bent and uncovers that which is concealed. To You alone we give thanks. Even if our mouths were filled with song like the sea, and our tongues with exultation like the roaring of its waves, and our lips with praise like the breadth of the firmament, and our eyes were radiant like the sun and the moon, and our hands outspread like [the] eagles of the sky, and our feet light as the deer— we would never sufficiently thank You, Adonoy, our God and God of our fathers, and bless Your Name Our King for even one thousandth of the billions and trillions of favors, miracles and wonders which You did for our fathers and for us: from Egypt You redeemed us, Adonoy, our God; from the house of bondage, You liberated us; in famine You nourished us, and in [times of] plenty, You fed us; from the sword You saved us and from pestilence You removed us, and from many severe and lingering sicknesses, have You withdrawn us. Until now Your compassion has helped us and Your kindliness has not forsaken us. Do not abandon us, Adonoy, our God, for eternity. Therefore, the limbs which You apportioned for us, and the spirit and soul that You have breathed into our nostrils, and the tongue You have set in our mouth— behold, they will thank, bless, praise, glorify, sing, exalt, revere, sanctify, and proclaim the sovereignty of Your Name, our King always. For every mouth will thank You, and every tongue will swear allegiance to You, and every eye looks to You, and every knee will bend to You, and all that stand up will prostrate themselves before You; all hearts will fear You, and all innards and kidneys will sing to Your Name as is written, “All my bones will say: Adonoy! who is like unto You?” You save the poor man from one stronger than he, and the poor and needy from one who would rob him, the cry of the poor You hear, the scream of the impoverished You hear and deliver. Who is like You? Who is equal to You? And who can be compared to You? The Almighty, the Great, the Powerful, the Awesome most high Almighty, Possessor of heaven and earth. We will extol You, we will praise You, we will glorify You, and bless Your holy Name as it is said, “By David: My soul, bless Adonoy! and all that is within me [bless] His holy Name!”