Bava Metzia3

1(Fol. 42) R. Isaac said: "Always shall a man keep his money ready on hand, as it is said (Deut. 14, 25) And bind up the money in thy hand; i.e., although it is bound up, it shall nevertheless be in thy hand." R. Isaac said further: "Always shall a man divide his money in three parts, one of which he should invest in real estate, the second part he should invest in business, and the third part to remain always on hand [ready for profitable transactions]. R. Isaac said further: "Usually blessing does not occur except upon a thing which is hidden from sight [the exact quantity of which is now known], as it is said (Deut. 28, 8) The Lord will command the blessing with thee in thy barns." In the college of R. Ishmael it was taught that blessing does not occur except upon a thing which is hidden from sight. Our Rabbis were taught: He who is going to measure the grain in his barn, should say, "May it be Thy will, O Lord our God, to send blessing in the labor of our hands." When he begins to measure, he should say: "Blessed may be He who sendeth blessing upon this heap." If, however, he prayed after measuring, his prayer amounts to nothing, because blessing does not occur on things which are weighed, measured or counted, but on things which are hidden from the sight, as it is said, The Lord will command the blessing upon thee in thy barns.