All Israel have a portion in the world to come, and it is said, "And thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified". The sages taught (the following) in the language of the _Mishnah_--blessed be He that made choice of them and their _Mishnah_. 1. R. Meir 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.' 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. R. Joshua, the son of Levi, said, "Every day a _bat-kol_ 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'; and it says, 'And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.' Read not _charut_, but _cherut_, 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 said, 'And from _Mattanah_ to _Nachaliel_, and from _Nachaliel_ to _Bamot_.'" 3. He who learns from his companion a single chapter, a single rule, a single verse, a single expression, or even a single letter, ought to pay him honor, for so we find with David, King of Israel, who learned only two things from Ahitophel, and yet regarded him as his master, his guide, and familiar friend, as it is said, "But it was thou, a man, mine equal, my guide, and my familiar friend." Now, is it not an argument from minor to major, that if David, the King of Israel, who learned only two things from Ahitophel, regarded him as his master, guide, and familiar friend, he who learns from his fellow a chapter, rule, verse, expression, or even a single letter, is bound to pay him honor. And "honor" is nothing but _Torah_, as it is said, "The wise shall inherit honor and the perfect shall inherit good." And "good" is nothing but _Torah_, as it is said, "For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my _Torah_."