The Adulterer Who Strips His Own Heart of Wisdom

"He who commits adultery with a woman lacks a heart" (Proverbs 6:32). Rabbi Zavda said: What is "lacks a heart"? That the Omnipresent removes wisdom from his heart, and "wisdom" means nothing other than Torah, as you say (Psalms 19:8): "The Torah of the LORD is perfect... making wise the simple." And not only that, but they change the radiance of his face away from wisdom. And from where do we know that a person's radiance is wisdom? As you say (Ecclesiastes 8:1): "A person's wisdom lights up his face, and the boldness of his face is changed." And not only that, but that bad name is never wiped away from him, as it is said (Proverbs 6:33): "He shall get a wound and dishonor, and his reproach shall not be wiped away." And when he comes to the day of judgment, the Holy One, blessed be He, does not pardon him; rather, the Holy One, blessed be He, is filled with wrath against him. A parable: to what is the matter like? To a certain legion that rebelled against the king. What did the king do? He took his weapons of war and went out against it. As soon as he reached it, out of the jealousy that was in him, he began striking and advancing, as you say (Proverbs 6:34): "For jealousy is the rage of a man." So too in the time to come, the Holy One, blessed be He, is filled with wrath against those guilty of transgression; therefore it is said, "he will not spare in the day of vengeance." And it is written after it (Proverbs 6:35): "He will not regard any ransom." Rabbi Abbahu said: This teaches you that the way of the Holy One, blessed be He, is not like the measure of flesh and blood. The measure of flesh and blood: when one is filled with wrath against his fellow, he can appease him with words; but the Holy One, blessed be He, is not so, "he will not regard any ransom." Flesh and blood: if you cannot appease him with words, you can appease him with money; but the Holy One, blessed be He, is not so, "nor will he be content though you give many gifts" (Proverbs 6:35). From here you learn how severe is the punishment of transgression; and not only that, but concerning it Solomon prophesies...