The Father looked down from Heaven and saw me all in wounds from the injustice of men, and said: avenge not yourself.
On whom shall I avenge myself, O Lord? On the procession of the flock that goes to the slaughter?
Does the physician avenge himself on the sick, who revile him from their deathbed?
On whom shall I avenge myself? On the snow that melts, and the grass that withers? Does the gravedigger avenge himself on those who are lowered into the grave?
On whom shall I avenge myself? On the ignorant, who think they can inflict evil on anyone else in the world but themselves? Does the teacher avenge himself on unlettered children, who do not know how to read?
Eternity is my witness, that all who are swift to vengeance are slow in reading and understanding her mysteries.
Time is my witness, that all who have avenged themselves have heaped up poison within themselves, and with poison have blotted themselves out of the book of the living.
Of what do you boast, avengers, before your adversaries, if not of this — that you are able to repeat their evil? Do you not thereby declare: we too are no better than you?
God is my witness: both you and your adversaries are equally heedless and equally powerless for good.
I saw a cherry tree, whose bark children had stripped off and burned, giving its ripe fruit to those same children.
And I saw cows, whom men tormented with heavy burdens, patiently giving their milk to those same men.
And tears rushed to my eyes: why should nature be more merciful toward men than man toward man?
Nature is my witness, avengers — only he is mightier than his evildoers who is powerless to repeat their deeds.
Vengeance has no end, and descendants carry on the work of their fathers, and depart leaving it unfinished.
Down the broad road evil races, and from every new combat it gains strength and spoil, and multiplies its retinue.
The wise man steps aside from the road, and leaves evil to race on.
A barking dog is quieted sooner by a piece of bread than by a heap of stones.
He who taught men: an eye for an eye — taught them how all shall remain blind.
On whom shall I avenge myself, O my heavenly Father? On the procession of the flock that goes to the slaughter?
Ah, how pitiable are all evildoers and all avengers! Truly, like a flock that goes to the slaughter yet knows not where it goes, and so gores itself and makes a slaughterhouse before the slaughterhouse.
I seek not vengeance, O my Father, I seek not vengeance, but I seek that Thou give me a sea of tears, that I may weep for the sorrow of those who go to the slaughter and know not where they go.