Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When Moses ascended to heaven, the ministering angels said before the Holy One, Blessed Be He, "Master of the universe, what is this woman-born doing among us?"
God said to them, "He has come to receive the Torah."
They replied to Him, "This precious treasure that you stored 974 generations before the world was created, you desire to give it to flesh and blood? What are humans that You should remember them, the son of man that You should consider him?" (Psalms 8:5) "O LORD, our Lord, How glorious is Thy name in all the earth! Whose majesty is rehearsed above the heavens." (Psalms 8:2)
The Holy One said to Moses, "Answer them."
Moses said before the Master of the Universe, "I am fearful, lest they burn me with their breath."
He replied, "Grasp my throne of glory and reply to them." As it is written, "He allows him to grasp the face of the throne: He spreads upon him his cloud." (Job 26:9)
Moses said before him, "Master of the Universe, the Torah which you give me, what is written in it?"
"I am the lord your God who took you from the land of Egypt." (Exodus 20:2)
Moses said to them, "Did you descend to Egypt? Were you enslaved to Pharaoh? Why should the Torah be yours?"
Again, he asked, "What is written in it?"
"You shall have no other Gods beside Me." (Exodus 20:3)
"Do you dwell among people, such that you worship idols?"
Again, he asked, "What is written in it?"
"Remember the Sabbath Day to sanctify it." (Exodus 20:8)
"Do any of you do labor that you need to rest from it?"
Again, he asked, "What is written in it?"
"Do not swear falsely" (Exodus 20:13)
"Do any of your conduct business?"
Again, he asked, "What is written in it?"
"Honor thy father and mother." (Exodus 20:12)
"Do any of you have parents?"
Again, he asked, "What is written in it?"
"Do not kill ... Do not commit adultery ... do not steal." (Exodus 20:13)
"Do you have jealousy? An evil inclination?"
Immediately they praised the Holy One, as it is written, "O LORD, our Lord, How glorious is Thy name in all the earth!" And "Whose majesty is rehearsed above the heavens." is not written. (Psalms 8:2)
Rabbi Yehoshia ben Levi said: When Moses descended from the Holy One, Satan came and said before the Master of the Universe, "Where is the Torah?"
God replied, "I have given it to the Earth."
Satan went to the Earth and said to her, "Where is the Torah?"
The Earth replied, "God understandeth the way thereof, And He knoweth the place thereof." (Job 28:23)
Satan went to the Sea, who said to him, "It is not with me."
He went to Tehom, who replied, "It is not with me." As it is written, "The deep saith: ‘It is not in me’; And the sea saith: ‘It is not with me" ... "Destruction and Death say: ‘We have heard a rumor thereof with our ears.’" (Job 28:14&22)
Satan returned and said before the Holy One, "Master of the Universe, I searched the entire land and did not find her."
God replied, "Go to the son of Amram."
Satan went to Moses and said to him, "Where is the Torah which the Holy One gave you?"
Moses replied, "Who am I that the Holy One should give me the Torah?"
The Holy One replied, "Moses! Are you a liar?!"
Moses responded before the Master of the Universe, "You have a precious stored treasure which you delight in every day. Could I say that I have it and give favor to myself?"
The Holy One said to Moses, "Seeing that you have made yourself small, it will be called by your name." As it is written, "Remember the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances." (Malachi 3:22)
(12) But wisdom, where shall it be found? And where is the place of understanding? (13) Man knoweth not the price thereof; Neither is it found in the land of the living. (14) The deep saith: ‘It is not in me’; And the sea saith: ‘It is not with me.’ (15) It cannot be gotten for gold, Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. (16) It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, With the precious onyx, or the sapphire. (17) Gold and glass cannot equal it; Neither shall the exchange thereof be vessels of fine gold. (18) No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; Yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies. (19) The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, Neither shall it be valued with pure gold. (20) Whence then cometh wisdom? And where is the place of understanding? (21) Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, And kept close from the fowls of the air. (22) Destruction and Death say: ‘We have heard a rumor thereof with our ears.’ (23) God understandeth the way thereof, And He knoweth the place thereof. (24) For He looketh to the ends of the earth, And seeth under the whole heaven; (25) When He maketh a weight for the wind, And meteth out the waters by measure. (26) When He made a decree for the rain, And a way for the storm of thunders; (27) Then did He see it, and declare it; He established it, yea, and searched it out. (28) And unto man He said: ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’
(1) For the Leader; upon the Gittith. A Psalm of David. (2) O LORD, our Lord, How glorious is Thy name in all the earth! Whose majesty is rehearsed above the heavens. (3) Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou founded strength, Because of Thine adversaries; That Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. (4) When I behold Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which Thou hast established; (5) What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou thinkest of him? (6) Yet Thou hast made him but little lower than the angels, And hast crowned him with glory and honour. (7) Thou hast made him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under His feet: (8) Sheep and oxen, all of them, Yea, and the beasts of the field; (9) The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea; Whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. (10) O LORD, our Lord, How glorious is Thy name in all the earth!