261. If he transgresses THE PRECEPTS OF the Torah, THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF HIS BODY shall be watered by the bitterness of the Tree of Evil, which is the Evil Inclination. It is written about all the parts of the body that are made of the four elements in him, "And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage..." (Shemot 1:14). They made them bitter by the bitterness of the gallbladder (Heb. marah). Of the sacred parts of the body, which are from the side of good, it is written: "And when they came to Marah (lit. 'bitter'), they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter..." (Shemot 15:23). Similarly, the sages of the Mishnah said that the verse, "And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage..." refers to hard questions, "in mortar (Heb. chomer) refers to inferences from minor to major," and "in brick (Heb. levenah)" in clarifying (Heb. libun), the Halachah, "And in all manner of bondage in the field," allude to the Barayta, "All their bondage" is the Mishnah. BECAUSE OF THEIR SINS AND TRANSGRESSION, THE OTHER SIDE CLEAVED TO ALL THE PARTS OF THEIR STUDY OF THE TORAH. AS OUR SAGES OF BLESSED MEMORY SAID, 'IF A MAN IS NOT WORTHY, THE TORAH BECOMES TO HIM A DEADLY POISON'.