67. They went. As they were going, they reached the home of Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair. Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair came out, kissed RABBI SHIMON, and said: I have earned the right to kiss the Shechinah. How fortunate is my lot. He set up for them expensive bed sheets. Rabbi Shimon said: The Torah does not require this. He removed THE SPREADS and they sat down. Rabbi Pinchas said: Before we eat, we will hear a discourse from the master of Torah, as all the words of Rabbi Shimon are open as a revelation. He is a man who need not be afraid from above or below of preaching them. He fears not what is above, as the Holy One, blessed be He, agrees with him. He is also not fearful of those below, just as a lion fears not the flock of sheep. Rabbi Shimon said to Rabbi Elazar, his son: Elazar, stand where you are and recite a novel Torah interpretation before Rabbi Pinchas and the other friends.
67. אָזְלוּ. עַד דַּהֲווֹ אַזְלֵי, מָטוּ לְבֵי רִבִּי פִּנְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר. נָפַק רִבִּי פִּנְחָס, וּנְשָׁקֵיהּ. אָמַר, זָכֵינָא לְנַשְּׁקָא שְׁכִינְתָּא. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקִי אַתְקִין לְהוּ טִיקְלֵי דְּעַרְסֵי, קַפְטוּרֵי דְּקִילְטָא. אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, אוֹרַיְיתָא לָא בָּעֵי הָכִי, אַעְבָּר לְהוֹן, וְיָתִיבוּ. א"ר פִּנְחָס, עַד לָא נֵיכוּל, נִשְׁמַע מִמָּארֵיהּ דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא מִלָּה. דְּהָא ר"ש כָּל מִלּוֹי בְּאִתְגַּלְיָיא אִינּוּן, אִיהוּ גַּבְרָא דְּלָא דָּחִיל מֵעֵילָּא וּמִתַתָּא, לְמֵימַר לוֹן, לָא דָּחִיל מֵעֵילָּא, דְּהָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִסְתָּכַּם בֵּיהּ, לָא דָּחִיל מִתַּתָּא, כְּאַרְיֵה דְּלָא דָּחִיל מִבְּנֵי עָנָא. אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרִיה, אֶלְעָזָר קוּם בְּקִיּוּמָךְ, וְאֵימָא מִלָּה חַדְתָּא, לְגַבֵּי דְּרִבִּי פִּנְחָס וּשְׁאָר חַבְרַיָּיא.