Do (serve Hash-m) amidst love, and do amidst fear.

Do amidst love, so if you come to hate, know that you love, and one who loves does not hate;

Do amidst fear, so if you come to rebel, know that you fear, and one who fears does not rebel.

(Beraisa): There are seven types of Perushim (ascetics, most of which are improper; they will be explained) - Shichmi, Nikfi, Kizai, Mah ha'NaChiya, Eda Chovasi v'E'esenah, from love, and from fear.

A Parush Shichmi carries [matters needed for] Mitzvos on his Shechem (shoulder, to publicize the matter);

A Parush Nikfi says Akif [lend to] me, and I will do a Mitzvah (to publicize it);

A Parush Kizai does one Aveirah, and one Mitzvah, and [does not repent, for he thinks that] one cancels one.

A Parush Mah ha'NaChiya - what I have, I Menachi (deduct) from it and do a Mitzvah;

A Parush Eda Chovasi v'E'esenah - [tell me] what is my liability (what Aveirah I did), and I will do a Mitzvah corresponding to [offset] it;

A Parush [who serves from] fear is like Iyov;

A Parush [who serves amidst] love is like Avraham. The dearest of all of them is a Parush amidst love, like Avraham.

Avraham Avinu made [his] Yetzer ha'Ra good- "u'Matzasa Es Levavo Ne'eman Lefanecha." (The letter 'Beis' is doubled in Levavo, to allude to both Yetzers.)

(R. Acha): [The Yetzer ha'Ra] compromised with [Avraham, and agreed not to make him sin] - "v'Charas Imo ha'Bris veha'Chesed..."

However, David could not stand against it, and killed it in his heart. What is the source? "V'Libi Chalal b'Kirbi."

R. Akiva was being judged (suffering an excruciating execution) in front of Turnusrufus the Rasha. The time for Keri'as Shma came. He began to recite Keri'as Shma, and laughed.

Turnusrufus: Elder - either you are a witch [and through witchcraft, you do not feel the pain], or you rebel at afflictions (pretend not to feel them, to anger me)!

R. Akiva: That man's Ru'ach should explode (you should die)! I am not a witch, nor do I rebel at afflictions. Rather, all my life I read this verse, and I was pained - when will all three [ways to love Hash-m] come to my hand (to fulfill them)?!

"V'Ahavta Es Hash-m Elokecha b'Chol Levavcha uv'Chol Nafshecha uv'Chol Me'odecha" - I loved Him with all my heart, and I loved Him with all my money. With all my life, I was not tested;

And now that came [the opportunity to fulfill] b'Chol Nafshi, and the time for Keri'as Shma came, and I did not divert my mind [from loving Him - CHAREDIM] - therefore I recite and laugh!

He did not have time to say 'Echad' before his Neshamah departed.

Nechemyah Imsoni served R. Akiva 22 years. [R. Akiva] taught him that "Es" and "Gam" are inclusions, and "Ach" and "Rak" are exclusions.

Question (Nechemyah): What [can we include] from "Es Hash-m Elokecha Tira" (that we should fear it like Hash-m)?!

Answer (R. Akiva): [Fear] Him and His Torah.