A number of people related that upon occasion they had seen a fire burning off in the distance. They drew close to there, but it was nothing. This likewise occasionally appears also on the road; and occasionally this also appears in the sea. It has already been determined that it comes from the mist that rises from the ground.
Now, there are mists that have the power of sulphur, so that some mists rise up and join one with the other <and begin to burn. Then, when the wind comes and strikes them from above, they suddenly dissipate.>
There are also individuals like this. His heart occasionally burns for God and he begins in the service of God. But after a while, his [enthusiasm] dissipates and he goes back to the way he was before. Upon occasion it lasts half a day or a few days or a few weeks. But it is not forever or even for a long time.
Now, this [inspiration] stems from the wicked, i.e., from that which the wicked are full of regret. These regrets join together and come to some person. And, commensurate with the number of regrets that come to him, that is how long his heart will burn for God. For from these regrets his heart suddenly burns.
כַּמָּה בְּנֵי אָדָם סִפְּרוּ, שֶׁרָאוּ לִפְעָמִים אֵשׁ בּוֹעֵר מֵרָחוֹק, וְקָרְבוּ לְשָׁם – וְלֹא הָיָה כְּלוּם; וְכֵן נִתְרָאֶה גַּם־כֵּן לִפְעָמִים בַּדֶּרֶךְ. וְגַם עַל הַיָּם לִפְעָמִים נִתְרָאֶה כָּךְ. וּכְבָר נוֹדָע שֶׁזֶּה בָּא מִן הָאֵדִים הָעוֹלִים מִן הָאָרֶץ.
A number of people related that upon occasion they had seen a fire burning off in the distance. They drew close to there, but it was nothing. This likewise occasionally appears also on the road; and occasionally this also appears in the sea. It has already been determined that it comes from the mist that rises from the ground.
וְיֵשׁ אֵדִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם כֹּחַ שֶׁל גָּפְרִית, וְעוֹלִים אֵיזֶה אֵדִים וְנִתְקַבְּצִים זֶה עִם זֶה, וּמַכֶּה עֲלֵיהֶם רוּחַ קַר מִלְּמַעְלָה וְנוֹפְלִים לְמַטָּה וּמַתְחִילִין לִבְעֹר לְפִי שָׁעָה,
Now, there are mists that have the power of sulphur, so that some mists rise up and join one with the other <and begin to burn. Then, when the wind comes and strikes them from above, they suddenly dissipate.>
כְּמוֹ כֵן יֵשׁ כַּמָּה בְּנֵי אָדָם, שֶׁלִּפְעָמִים נִבְעָר לִבּוֹ לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וּמַתְחִיל בַּעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וּלְאַחַר שָׁעָה נִתְבַּטֵּל וְחוֹזֵר לְקַדְמוּתוֹ, וְלִפְעָמִים נִמְשָׁךְ חֲצִי יוֹם אוֹ אֵיזֶה יָמִים אוֹ אֵיזֶה שָׁבוּעוֹת, אַךְ לֹא לָנֶצַח וְלֹא לִזְמַן מְרֻבֶּה.
There are also individuals like this. His heart occasionally burns for God and he begins in the service of God. But after a while, his [enthusiasm] dissipates and he goes back to the way he was before. Upon occasion it lasts half a day or a few days or a few weeks. But it is not forever or even for a long time.
וְזֶה בָּא מֵרְשָׁעִים, הַיְנוּ מִמַּה שֶּׁהָרְשָׁעִים מְלֵאִים חֲרָטָה. וְאֵלּוּ הַחֲרָטוֹת מִתְקַבְּצִים וּבָאִים לְאֵיזֶה אָדָם. וּכְפִי מִסְפַּר הַחֲרָטוֹת הַבָּאִים לוֹ, כֵּן נִמְשָׁךְ הַזְּמַן שֶׁבּוֹעֵר לִבּוֹ לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, כִּי מֵאֵלּוּ הַחֲרָטוֹת נִבְעָר לִבּוֹ פִּתְאֹם.
Now, this [inspiration] stems from the wicked, i.e., from that which the wicked are full of regret. These regrets join together and come to some person. And, commensurate with the number of regrets that come to him, that is how long his heart will burn for God. For from these regrets his heart suddenly burns.
אַךְ לָאו כָּל אָדָם שָׁוֶה בָּזֶה, כִּי יֵשׁ בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁאֵינוֹ בָּא לוֹ הִתְלַהֲבוּת מֵאֵלּוּ הַחֲרָטוֹת, רַק מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר:
However, not all people are equal in this. There are some people to whom inspiration comes not from these regrets, but from some other source.