"Be angry, but do not sin." Rabbi Acha said, "Let your inclination anger you, but do not let it cause you to sin." And Rav said, "Deny your inclination and do not let it cause you to sin, so that you will not come to sin." It was taught in the name of Rabbi Acha bar Yaakov, "The mikveh of Israel is the Lord.
Just as this mikveh purifies the impure, so too does the Holy One, blessed be He, purify Israel." And who should go to whom? It can be said that the impure should go to the mikveh and immerse themselves in it. Similarly, the Holy One, blessed be He, said, "When you pray, pray in the synagogue in your city.
And if you cannot go to the synagogue in your city, pray in your own house. And if you cannot speak, think in your heart." This is what is written, "Say in your hearts upon your beds, and be still, Selah." Rabbi Yudan said, "As long as you remain silent about the sin that you have committed, you are forgiven.
And if you do so, see what is written afterwards, 'Sacrifice sacrifices of righteousness.'" I consider it as if you have built an altar and offered many sacrifices on it. The word "sacrifice" is not written, but "sacrifices." It was taught that one who recites the Shema in the synagogue during the morning service has fulfilled his obligation, but in the evening service he should not leave until he returns home and lies down on his bed.
What is the reason? To avoid harmful spirits. And one should not say other things that are not true and reliable. These are truly reliable matters concerning the morning service, as Rabbi Zeira bar Abba said, "There are three smacks: one for leaning [on the animal to be sacrificed], one for slaughter, as it says, 'And he shall lean and slaughter' [Leviticus 1:5], one for washing [the hands], a blessing, and one for redemption, a prayer."