The Gemoro (85a) says that although the Mishna said Litol (take), it really means "Liten" (give) in the context of the case the Gemoro describes as meant by the Mishna. This is still difficult, as the Mishna said "Odom ...ROTZE Litol"!
I would be interested in any comments
Meir Eliezer Bergman, Manchester UK
It seems to me that the Tana had a difficulty with choosing his wording. According to the Gemara's conclusion, what he ought to have said was 'Kamah Adam Kayotzei Bo Rotzeh Liten Likto'a Lo Yado ha'Muchteves la'Malchus Bein Sayaf le'Sam, ' if his statement is to make any sense. Deeming that too lengthy, he opted to condense the latter half to ' ... Rotzeh Litol Liheyos Mitzta'er Kach' (four words instead of nine), which is more conducive to the concise choice of words generally employed by the Mishnah (presumably for memory's sake).
The Tana'im doubtless taught their students the correct intention of the Mishnah when they taught it. Later, the Gemara passed down to us exactly what the Tana meant.
Because the Mishnah's wording is so concise, the meaning of the Mishnah's phraseology is elusive at times, and one must work out exactly what the Tana means to say. In summary, the Tana means to say that one takes from the Mazik what the Nizak would have paid to have his pain reduced. That is what he taught his Talmidim, even if it is not quite what the words seem to convey.
Be'Virchas Kol Tuv
Eliezer Chrysler.