1. R. Meir (2) said, "Whosoever labors in the _Torah_ for its own
sake merits many things; and not only so, but the whole world is
indebted to him: he is called friend, beloved, a lover of the
All-present, a lover of mankind: it clothes him with meekness and
reverence; it fits him to become just, pious, upright, and faithful;
it keeps him far from sin, and brings him near to virtue; through him
are enjoyed counsel and sound knowledge, understanding and strength,
as it is said, 'Counsel is mind, and sound knowledge; I am
understanding; I have strength' (3). It gives him sovereignty and
dominion and discerning judgment; to him the secrets of the _Torah_
are revealed; he is made like a never-failing spring and like a river
that flows on with ever-increasing vigor; he becomes modest,
long-suffering, and forgiving of insults; and it magnifies and exalts
him above all things."

(2) Chapter III, n. 32.

(3) Prov. VIII, 14. Wisdom, representing the _Torah_, utters
these words.

2. R. Joshua, the son of Levi (4), said, "Every day a _bat-kol_ (5)
goes forth from Mount Horeb, proclaiming and saying, 'Woe to mankind
for contempt of the _Torah_, for whoever does not occupy himself in
the _Torah_ is said to be under the divine censure, as it is said, 'As
a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman who turneth
aside from discretion' (6); and it says, 'And the tables were the work
of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the
tables' (7). Read not _charut_ (8), but _cherut_ (9), for no man is
free but he who occupies himself in the learning of _Torah_. But
whosoever labors in the _torah_, behold he shall be exalted, as it is