We find in the Gemara that according to the measure which a man uses in this world, that is,

as a person conducts himself in this world, well or ill, so does the Lord, blessed be He, requite him.

We find an illustration of this in the sotah, i. e. the adulterous woman who turns away from her husband and misconducts herself with another man. As she does, so is it done to her.

A woman who wishes to commit adultery stands at the door that the people may see how fair she is, so that all men should desire her. And she is dealt with in the same manner. For when she is caught in the act of sinning, she is placed at the gate of the temple, which was called the gate of Nicanor, that everyone should see her shame. Moreover a prostitute covers her head with a white veil so that the people should be attracted to her. Therefore the priest proceeds correspondingly when he gives her the bitter waters to drink so that they should cause her to swell. He tears the veil from her head so that she should stand bareheaded before the public. Further, the prostitute paints her face to make it pretty, and correspondingly her face turns yellow when she drinks the bitter waters. She sprinkles

her eyes with perfume that she may have a sweet odor; therefore her eyes protrude out of her head

when she has drunk the bitter waters. She plaits her hair beautifully so that she may be attractively done up; therefore when the priest gives her the bitter waters to drink, her hair is undone. She beckons with her finger to make come to her; therefore the nails of her fingers fall off when she has drunk the bitter water. She puts on a beautiful girdle and key (buckle) – for a beautiful girdle is an ornament to woman – therefore the priest takes a rope of hair and twists it round her breast, causing her great pain. When she lies with a man, she spreads her legs apart; therefore her feet drop. She

supports the man on her belly; therefore when she drinks the water her belly swells. She feeds

her lover with all manner of good food; therefore she must bring as a sacrifice food for a beast,

namely, a measure of barley. She gives her lover the best wine that she can find to drink out of gold and silver goblets; therefore the priest gives her bitter water to drink out of an earthenware vessel. She allows no one to look on when she commits her sin; therefore God makes her face to turn yellow in the sight of all. Therefore, dear women, take this tale to heart and beware of falling a prey to sin, for retribution is bound to come.