What, now, is the difference between those who study the Torah and faithful prophets? The former are ever superior, since they stand on a higher level. Those who study the Torah stand in a place called Tifereth (Beauty), which is the pillar of all faith, whereas the prophets stand lower in the place called Nezah (Victory) and Hod (Majesty); and those who merely speak in the spirit of holiness stand lower still.
He who studies the Torah needs neither peace offerings nor burnt offerings, since the Torah is superior to all and the bond of faith; wherefore it is written “Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace” (Prov. 3, 17), and also, “Great peace have they which love thy law and they have no occasion for stumbling” (Ps. 119, 165).’
תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה בֵּין אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, לִנְבִיאֵי מְהֵימְנֵי. אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, עֲדִיפֵי מִנְּבִיאֵי בְּכָל זִמְנָא. מַאי טַעֲמָא. דְּאִינּוּן קַיְימֵי בְּדַרְגָּא עִלָּאָה, יַתִּיר מִנְּבִיאֵי, אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא קַיְימֵי לְעֵילָּא, בְּאַתְרָא דְּאִקְרֵי תּוֹרָה, (נ"א תפארת) דְּהוּא קִיוּמָא דְּכָל מְהֵימְנוּתָא. וּנְבִיאֵי קַיְימֵי לְתַתָּא, בַּאֲתַר דְּאִקְרוּן נֶצַח וְהוֹד. וְעַל דָּא (אקרון), אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, עֲדִיפֵי מִנְּבִיאֵי, וְעִלָּאִין מִנְּהוֹן יַתִּיר. דְּאִלֵּין קַיְימִין לְעֵילָּא, וְאִלֵּין קַיְימִין לְתַתָּא. אִינּוּן דְּאַמְרֵי מִלִּין בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, קַיְימֵי לְתַתָּא מְכֻּלְּהוּ. (ועל דא)
What, now, is the difference between those who study the Torah and faithful prophets? The former are ever superior, since they stand on a higher level. Those who study the Torah stand in a place called Tifereth (Beauty), which is the pillar of all faith, whereas the prophets stand lower in the place called Nezah (Victory) and Hod (Majesty); and those who merely speak in the spirit of holiness stand lower still.
זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּאִינּוּן בְּדַרְגָּא עִלָּאָה יַתִּיר עַל כֹּלָּא. (ועל דא) מַאן דְּלָעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, לָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לָא לְקָרְבְּנִין, וְלָא לְעִלָּוָון. דְּהָא אוֹרַיְיתָא עָדִיף מִכֹּלָּא, וְקִשּׁוּרָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, (משלי ג׳:י״ז) דְּרָכֶיהָּ דַּרְכֵי נֹעַם וְכָל נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם. וּכְתִיב, (תהילים קי״ט:קס״ה) שָׁלוֹם רָב לְאוֹהֲבֵי תוֹרָתֶךָ וְאֵין לָמוֹ מִכְשׁוֹל.
He who studies the Torah needs neither peace offerings nor burnt offerings, since the Torah is superior to all and the bond of faith; wherefore it is written “Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace” (Prov. 3, 17), and also, “Great peace have they which love thy law and they have no occasion for stumbling” (Ps. 119, 165).’