Translation:Talmud/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avodah Zarah/2a

Mishnah

ON THE THREE DAYS PRECEDING THE FESTIVITIES1 OF IDOLATERS, IT IS FORBIDDEN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS WITH THEM, TO LEND ARTICLES TO THEM OR BORROW ANY FROM THEM, TO ADVANCE, OR RECEIVE ANY MONEY FROM THEM, TO REPAY A DEBT, OR RECEIVE REPAYMENT FROM THEM.2 R. JUDAH SAYS: WE SHOULD RECEIVE REPAYMENT FROM THEM, AS THIS CAN ONLY DEPRESS THEM;3 BUT THEY [THE RABBIS]4 SAID TO HIM: EVEN THOUGH IT IS DEPRESSING AT THE TIME, THEY ARE GLAD OF IT SUBSEQUENTLY.

Gemara

Rab and Samuel [differed]: the one quoting [from this Mishnah] ed, while the other quoted ‘ed.5 The one who quoted ed is not in error, nor is the one who quoted ‘ed in error.6 The one who quoted ed is not in error, since Scripture says: For the day of their calamity is at hand;7 so also is he who quotes ‘ed not in error, for Scripture also says: Let them bring their witnesses [testimonies] that they may be justified.8 Why does he who quotes ed not have ‘ed? — He might say, the term ed [‘calamity’] is more applicable [to idolatry]. Why then does not the one who quotes ‘ed have ed? — He might say: What is it that brings about that calamity [if not] their testimony? hence the term ‘ed [‘testimony’] is more apt. But does the verse, Let them bring their witnesses that they may be justified, refer to idolaters at all? It surely refers to Israel; as R. Joshua b. Levi said: All the good deeds which Israel does in this world will bear testimony unto them in the world to come, as it is said: Let them bring their witnesses that they may be justified — that is Israel; And let them hear and say: It is truth — these are the idolaters. Whereupon R. Huna the son of R. Joshua said that the one who quotes ‘ed derives it from this verse: They that fashion a graven image are all of them vanity, and their delectable things shall not profit,’ and their own witnesses see not, nor know.9 R. Hanina b. Papa — some say R. Simlai — expounded [the foregoing verse] thus: In times to come,10 the Holy One, blessed be He, will take a scroll of the Law in His embrace and proclaim: ‘Let him who has occupied himself herewith, come and take his reward.’ Thereupon all the nations will crowd together in confusion, as it is said: All the nations are gathered together, etc.11 The Holy One, blessed be He, will then say to them: ‘Come not before Me in confusion, but let each nation come in