Daf 190b (דַּף ק״צ ע״ב)

What is written? And it was, as she spoke to Yosef day by day (מַה כְּתִיב: וַיְהִי כְּדַבְּרָהּ אֶל יוֹסֵף יוֹם יוֹם) (Bereishit 39). As she spoke-that she ascended and accused every single day (כְּדַבְּרָהּ, דְּסָלְקָא וְסָאטֵי בְּכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא), saying before Kudsha Berikh Hu: how many evils, how many slanders, in order to destroy My world (וְאָמַר קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כַּמָּה בִּישִׁין כַּמָּה דִּלְטוֹרִין, בְּגִין לְשֵׁיצָאָה בְּנִי עַלְמָא). What is written? And he did not listen to her, to lie with her, to be with her (מַה כְּתִיב: וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ לִשְׁכַּב אֶצְלָהּ לִהְיוֹת עִמָּהּ) (Bereishit 39). He did not listen to her-because he had compassion on the world (וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ חָיִיס עַל עַלְמָא). To lie with her-what is to lie with her? (לִשְׁכַּב אֶצְלָהּ, מַהוּ לִשְׁכַּב אֶצְלָהּ) To take dominion, to rule over the world (בְּגִין לְנָסְבָא שָׁלְטָנוּ, לְשַׁלְּטָאָה עַל עַלְמָא), and dominion is not gained without permission (וְשָׁלְטָנוּ לָא שָׁלְטָא, עַד דְּאִתְיְהִיב לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ). Another matter: to lie with her, as it is said: and the man who lies with a woman who is impure (דָּבָר אַחֵר לִשְׁכַּב אֶצְלָהּ, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר: וּלְאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁכַּב עִם טְמֵאָה) (Vayikra 15). To be with her-to give her dominion, blessing, and assistance (לִהְיוֹת עִמָּהּ לְמֵיהַב לָהּ רְבוּ וּבִרְכָּאן וְסִיַּיעְתָּא), for if she had aid from above, not one would remain in the world (דְּאִלְּמָלֵא סִיּוּעָא הֲוָה לָהּ מִלְּעֵילָא, לָא אִשְׁתָּאַר בְּעַלְמָא אֲפִילּוּ חַד). But because Kudsha Berikh Hu has mercy on the world, the world is sustained in its existence (אֲבָל בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חָיִיס עַל עַלְמָא, אִשְׁתָּאַר עַלְמָא בְּקִיּוּמֵיהּ).

Rabbi Abba said: all is one path (רִבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר: כֹּלָּא אִיהוּ אָרְחָא חָדָא), but the evil inclination goes and entices mankind (אֲבָל יֵצֶר הָרָע הוּא דְקָא אָזִיל וּמְפַתֵּי לוֹן לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא), to turn them from the path and cling to them (בְּגִין לְאַסְטָאָה אָרְחַיְיהוּ וּלְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בְּהוּ), day by day and in every moment (בְּכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא, וּבְכָל עִידָן וְעִידָן). He diverts a person from the path of truth, to push him away from the path of life (סָטֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ מֵאָרְחָא דִּקְשׁוֹט, בְּגִין לְדַחְיָיא לֵיהּ מֵאָרְחָא דְּחַיֵּי), to draw him toward Gehinnom (לְאַמְשָׁכָא לֵיהּ לַגֵּיהִנֹּם).

Fortunate is one who acts and guards (זַכָּאָה אִיהוּ מַאן דְּעָבִיד וְנָטִיר) Some say: Fortunate-what does he do? He guards (נ״א: זַכָּאָה מַאי עָבִיד נָטִיר) his paths and ways (אָרְחוֹי וּשְׁבִילוֹי), so as not to cling to it (בְּגִין דְּלָא יִתְדַּבַּק בֵּיהּ). This is what is written: And it was, as she spoke to Yosef day by day, and he did not listen to her (הַיְינוּ דִכְתִיב: וַיְהִי כְּדַבְּרָהּ אֶל יוֹסֵף יוֹם יוֹם וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ – (Bereishit 39) Just as (Some say: through what) she said to him every day (כְּמָה (נ״א: בְּמָה) דְּאִיהִי אֲמְרַת לֵיהּ בְּכָל יוֹמָא), for the impure spirit, the evil inclination, it entices a person each day (דְּהָא רוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא, יֵצֶר הָרָע, אִיהוּ מְפַתֵּי לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ, בְּכָל יוֹמָא), to lie with her-into Gehinnom (לִשְׁכַּב אֶצְלָהּ, גּוֹ גֵיהִנֹּם), and to be punished there, to be with her (וּלְאִתְדָּנָא תַּמָּן, לִהְיוֹת עִמָּהּ).

Come and see: when a person clings to that side (תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּד בַּר נָשׁ אִתְדָּבַּק בְּהַהוּא סִטְרָא), he is drawn after it and becomes defiled with her in this world (אִתְמְשַׁךְ אֲבַתְרָהּ, וְאִסְתָּאַב עִמָּהּ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא), and is defiled with her in the other world (וְאִסְתָּאַב עִמָּהּ בְּעַלְמָא אָחֳרָא).

Come and see: that impure side is filthy, it is defilement (תָּא חֲזֵי, הַאי סִטְרָא מְסָאֲבָא, מְנוּוָלָא אִיהוּ, לִכְלוּכָא אִיהוּ), as it is written: Say to it, 'Filth itself' (כְּדִכְתִיב: צֵא תֹּאמַר לוֹ צוֹאָה מַמָּשׁ) (Yeshayahu 30). And with it is judged one who veers from the paths of Orayta (וּבֵיהּ אִתְדָּן מַאן דְּאַסְטֵי אָרְחוֹי מִן אוֹרַיְיתָא), and with it are judged the wicked of the world who have no faith in Kudsha Berikh Hu (וּבֵיהּ אִתְדָּנוּ אִינוּן חַיָּיבִין דְּעַלְמָא, דְּלֵית לוֹן מְהֵימְנוּתָא בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). What is written? And it was on that day, he came into the house to do his work, and no man of the house was there in the house (מַה כְּתִיב: וַיְהִי כְּהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וַיָּבֹא הַבַּיְתָה לַעֲשׂוֹת מְלַאכְתּוֹ וְאֵין אִישׁ מֵאַנְשֵׁי הַבַּיִת שָׁם בַּבָּיִת – (Bereishit 39). On that day-a day when the evil inclination rules in the world (וַיְהִי כְּהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, יוֹמָא דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע שָׁלְטָא בְּעָלְמָא), and descends to accuse mankind (וְנָחֲתָא לְאַסְטָאָה לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא). When? On the day when a person comes to repent of his sins or to engage in Orayta or perform its commandments (אֵימָתַי יוֹמָא דְּאָתֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְאֲתָבָא בִּתְיוּבְתָּא עַל חוֹבוֹי אוֹ לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא וּלְמֶעְבַּד פִּקּוּדֵי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא), then, in that moment, it descends to accuse mankind (וּכְדֵין בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא נָחֲתָא בְּגִין לְאַסְטָאָה לִבְנֵי עָלְמָא). He came into the house to do his work-to engage in Orayta and fulfill its commandments, which is the work of man in this world (וַיָּבֹא הַבַּיְתָה לַעֲשׂוֹת מְלַאכְתּוֹ, בְּגִין לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא וּלְמֶעְבַּד פִּקּוּדֵי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּאִיהוּ מְלַאכְתּוֹ דְּבַר נָשׁ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא). And since the labor of man in this world is the labor of Kudsha Berikh Hu (וְכֵיוָן דְּעֲבִידְתָּא דְּבַר נָשׁ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, הוּא עֲבִידְתָּא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), he must be mighty like a lion in every direction, so that the other side not dominate or seduce him (בָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְמֶהֱוֵי תַּקִּיפָא כְּאַרְיָא בְּכָל סִטְרוֹי, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִשְׁלוֹט עֲלֵיהּ סִטְרָא אָחֳרָא וְלָא יָכִיל לְמִפְתֵּי לֵיהּ). What is written? And no man was in the house-there was no one to stand against the evil inclination and wage war as fitting (מַה כְּתִיב וְאֵין אִישׁ, לֵית גְּבַר דְּיֵקוּם לְקֳבְלֵיהּ דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע וְיִגַּח בֵּיהּ קְרָבָא כְּדְקָא יָאוֹת). What is the way of the evil inclination? (מַה כְּתִיב: וַיְהִי כְּדַבְּרָהּ אֶל יוֹסֵף יוֹם יוֹם) (Bereishit 39) When it sees that no one stands against it or wages war, immediately: She caught him by his garment saying, “Lie with me.” (מַאי אוֹרְחֵיהּ דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע, כֵּיוָן דְּחָמֵי דְּלֵית בַּר נָשׁ קָאִים לְקֳבְלֵיהּ וּלְאַגָּחָא בֵּיהּ קְרָבָא, מִיָּד: וַתִּתְפְּשֵׂהוּ בְּבִגְדוֹ לֵאמֹר שִׁכְבָה עִמִּי) (Bereishit 39). She caught him by his garment-because when the evil inclination rules over a man, he adorns and beautifies himself, curls his hair, and grooms his garments (וַתִּתְפְּשֵׂהוּ בְּבִגְדוֹ, בְּגִין דְּכַד שַׁלִּיט יֵצֶר הָרָע עֲלֵיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ, אַתְקִין לֵיהּ, וְקַשִּׁיט לֵיהּ לְבוּשׁוֹי, מְסַלְסֵל בְּשַׂעֲרֵיהּ). This is what is written: She caught him by his garment saying, “Lie with me,”-cling to me (אִתְדָּבַּק עִמִּי). One who is meritorious (מַאן דְּאִיהוּ זַכָּאָה), strengthens himself against it and engages it in battle (אִתְתַּקַּף לְקֳבְלֵיהּ, וְאַגַּח בֵּיהּ קְרָבָא (נ״א: וְאַגַּח בֵּיהּ קְרָבָא). What is written? He left his garment in her hand and fled outside (מַה כְּתִיב: וַיַּעֲזֹב בִּגְדוֹ בְּיָדָהּ וַיָּנָס וַיֵּצֵא הַחוּצָה) (Bereishit 39). Let him abandon it, and strengthen himself against it, and escape from it to be saved, that it not rule over him (יִשְׁבּוֹק לֵיהּ, וְיִתְתַּקַּף לְקֳבְלֵיהּ, וְיֵעֲרוֹק מִנֵּיהּ, בְּגִין לְאִשְׁתְּזָבָא מִנֵּיהּ, וְלָא יִשְׁלוֹט עֲלוֹי).

Rabbi Yitzḥak said (אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק): the Righteous are destined to see the Evil Inclination (זְמִינִין אִינוּן צַדִּיקַיָּא לְמֶחֱמֵי לְיֵצֶר הָרָע), as a great mountain (כְּחַד טוּרָא רַבְרְבָא), and they will wonder and say (וְיִתְמְהוּן וְיֵימְרוּן): how were we able to subdue this lofty great mountain? (אֵיךְ יָכִילְנָא לְאַכְּפְיָא לֵיהּ לְטוּרָא רַבְרְבָא הָדֵין עִלָּאָה). And the wicked are destined to see the Evil Inclination (וּזְמִינִין רַשִּׁיעַיָּא לְמֶחֱמֵי לֵיהּ לְיֵצֶר הָרָע) as thin as a hair thread (דַּקִּיק כְּחוּטָא דְּשַׂעֲרָא), and they will wonder and say (וְיִתְמְהוּן וְיֵימְרוּן): how is it that we were not able to subdue this thin hair thread? (הֵיךְ לָא יָכִילְנָא לְאַכְּפְיָא לְחוּטָא דְּשַׂעֲרָא כְּדָא דַּקִּיק). These shall weep, and those shall weep (אִלֵּין יִבְכּוּן וְאִלֵּין יִבְכּוּן). And Kudsha Berikh Hu will remove it from the world (וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יְבַעֵר לֵיהּ מֵעַלְמָא), and He will hide it from their eyes (וְיִכּוֹס לֵיהּ לְעֵינַיְיהוּ), and it will no longer rule in the world (וְלָא יִשְׁלוֹט עוֹד בְּעַלְמָא), and the Righteous shall see and rejoice (וְיֶחֱמוּן צַדִּיקַיָּא וְיֶחֶדוּן), as it is said (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר): “Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your Name; the upright shall dwell before Your face” (אַךְ צַדִּיקִים יוֹדוּ לִשְׁמֶךָ יֵשְׁבוּ יְשָׁרִים אֶת פָּנֶיךָ) (Psalms 140).