The Soul: You have comforted me in having made me give up the hope of ever fathoming the mystery of this subject because of its subtlety and depth. But reveal to me the mystery of my existence in this world, its aim and purpose.
And give me, as well as you can and briefly, some approximate conception of necessity and righteousness, so that the same should not happen to me as happened to a king who, as I learned, did not appreciate the various aspects of his good fortune. The story is that in one of the Indian islands, there was a state, the citizens of which decided to appoint over them every year a stranger as a ruler; and when the year had elapsed, they would banish him and he would have to return to the status he had had before he had been appointed over them. Among those elected, one was a fool who knew nothing of their secret plans in regard to him. He accumulated much money, built palaces which he fortified, and sent nothing out of their country. On the contrary, whatever he had outside the state - his money, his wife and children, he brought into it. And when the year was ended, the citizens sent him out, stripped of all his possessions, and deprived of all that he had built or acquired before he entered office up to the time he relinquished it. And so when he left, he had nothing of what had belonged to him in the city and outside it. He grieved and regretted the trouble he had taken and the efforts he had expended on the edifices he had erected and the treasures he had accumulated and which now would go to another person.
Afterwards, the citizens decided to appoint as their ruler a stranger who was wise and understanding. After he had been appointed, he selected a person to whom he showed kindness and inquired of him the customs of the people and their laws which they had observed with reference to the one who had preceded him in office. The favorite revealed to the new ruler their secret plan and what they intended to do to him. When he learned this, his activities took a different turn to those of his predecessor. He strove and labored to take everything valuable in the country to the land where he had placed all his other treasures. He did not trust his subjects' exaltation of him nor the honor they showed him. During the whole time he stayed in their country, his mood was in between grief and joy. He was grieved that he would soon have to leave the people, and that the treasures he could bring out were in his estimation, so few. If he could have remained longer, he would have been able to bring out more. But he was glad that he would soon leave and be able to settle in the place where he had put his treasures and would be in a position to use and enjoy them in various ways, with a quiet mind, confident spirit and uninterruptedly.
And after his year was up, he was not troubled at leaving, but prepared for the event speedily, calmly and joyously, with approval of his work and diligence. He was going to great good fortune, honor and enduring joy. So he had happiness in both positions and attained his wishes in both places.
I fear, however, that what happened to the fool who wearied himself in both matters and lost out in both places, may happen to me. Since G-d has favored me in sending you to be my advisor, please instruct me and show me my position and tell me all you know in regard to the mystery of my being and the ways in which it should be improved.
The Understanding: In the parable you related, you have already given a picture of your state in this world and shown that your situation therein is like that of the kings you mentioned. You clearly realize that you are a stranger here and will soon depart from it. You should therefore act as the wise and understanding ruler did, so that the outcome in your case may be like his. Should you deviate from this course, my words will be of no use to you, my fine language will bring you no advantage.
The Understanding: The mystery of your being is that the Creator created you out of naught, in common with all spiritual beings that He created; and His purpose is to exalt you and elevate you to the high degree of His treasured ones-the chosen and elect who are nearest to the light of His glory-for your good and as a kindness towards you. But you will only be worthy of this favor when three conditions have been fulfilled:
The third is that He disciplines you in this world by your bearing the yoke of His service, in order to raise you to the degree of the higher beings who serve Him, of whom it is said, "Bless the L-ord, ye His angels, ye mighty in strength, that fulfill His word" (Ps. 103:20). All this could not have been possible if you remained in your former state.
Therefore the exalted Creator, by His wisdom, created for you this world with all that is therein - minerals, plants and living creatures, everything suitably arranged and properly administered - and all for your benefit. Out of the finest elements, He chose for you a palace similar to the world in its origin, foundations, products and form. In this palace he set five gates opening to the external world, and appointed five trustworthy keepers of the gates. Those gates are the organs of the senses - eyes, ears, nose, tongue, hands. The gatekeepers are the five senses which employ these organs, namely, the sense of sight, the sense of hearing, the sense of smell, the sense of taste and the sense of touch, by means of which you are enabled to attain to the knowledge of all that can be useful to you in this world. He also prepared for you in this palace four degrees for the four rulers. These are the brain, the heart, the liver, and the testicles.
Furthermore, He placed four stores for four officers, namely, the faculty of ingestion, the faculty of retention, the faculty of digestion, the faculty of excretion. Their stores and offices are the two galls-black and green, the white lymphatic fluid and the blood.
Within and without this palace, He distributed servants to attend to it and take care of it. Those within are the intestines, veins, sinews, nerves and arteries; those outside are the hands, feet, tongue, teeth, nails and other similar parts.
He furthermore made for you connecting intermediaries between the spiritual and physical, namely, the blood, the natural heat and the life spirit. By His wisdom and power He joined you to this palace in a proper and well-ordered union, so that you might fulfill the three requisites which I mentioned to you.
Of the two counselors the first is the Understanding which points out to you what the will of G-d is. The second counselor is your lust which entices and seduces you to do that which will arouse the anger of the L-ord, your G-d.
Of the two scribes, one writes down your good deeds, whether done in private or in public, secretly or in the sight of all, through any of those already mentioned whom he placed at your disposition, the gate-keepers, officers, administrators, servants, counselors, attendants and sextons. The second scribe writes down the bad deeds in the same way as we have stated in regard to the good deeds.
The servitors and sextons are the soul's moods and qualities - cheerfulness, anxiety, gladness, joy and grief, memory and forgetfulness, wisdom and folly, courage and timidity, generosity and miserliness, righteousness and wickedness, bashfulness and arrogance, hope and apprehension, love and hate, pleasure and pain, pride and modesty, domination and submissiveness, and many similar dispositions which you use with your inner being.
The blessed Creator appointed these watchmen, leaders and administrators, servants, counselors, servitors and sextons, to listen to you and be ready to do your bidding, up to a definite period, except in certain matters which He explained to them when they were brought into association with you. Those are the matters wherein necessity and the divine decree prevail.
In other words, He gave you liberty to make use of all these aids for the improvement of your physical well-being and to do everything over which the Almighty gave you control and power, but only in certain ways and under certain conditions. These are comprised in the duties indicated by our natural Reason, or that are to be accepted on divine authority (torah), or that are permitted.
And He said to you: "Whatever I have put into your hands in this world and placed under your control, must not entice you, since none of them can contribute anything to your essential being nor take anything from it; nor will you obtain from any of them either pleasure or pain, for they are only things that incidentally affect your body, externally or inwardly. None of them is necessary for you. Their relation to you is that of the embryonic sack to the new-born baby or the egg-shell to the hatched chick.
[G-d continues] "If you will understand and comprehend My intention towards you and the benefit which I have bestowed upon you, and you choose My service, and keep far from rebelling against Me in the management of everything over which I have given you control, I will raise you to the highest of the degrees attained by My elect and favored ones. I will draw you closer to My mercy and love, and enfold you with the radiance of My glory. But if you choose to rebel against Me, I will punish you with a severe punishment and afflict you with prolonged affliction."
[G-d continues] "If you are ignorant of the modes in which you should use any of the things which pertain to your service of Me which I have appointed unto you as your duty and obligation, because you are too much occupied with your body and its concerns, with which I test you, I have appointed for you a counselor, wise and faithful. When you ask his advice, he will instruct you. If you ignore him he will arouse you. This counselor is the Understanding. Take counsel with him in all your affairs, for he will recommend you how to employ all your servitors who stand before you, in the right way of serving Me. The reprehensible qualities will be transformed into praiseworthy ones, even as does the wise physician, making use of injurious and even poisonous drugs for the benefit of the body."
[G-d continues] "If you will continue to be of this mind, and strengthen your Understanding, and listen to his advice, the scribe who writes down good deeds will count all your permitted (neutral) movements among your good deeds to which they will be added, and all your servitors will help you in My service."
[G-d continues] "But if you dismiss his advice and incline to the view of the second counselor who is in all respects his opponent, and use all the means placed at your disposal as he advises you, then your praiseworthy qualities will become reprehensible, even as the incompetent physician in his ignorance kills patients by his inexpert use of useful medicines. And the scribe, appointed to write down evil deeds will write, down all your permitted (neutral) movements and enter them in the record of your evil deeds, to which they will be added."
[G-d continues] "You will find that your aids, attendants and servitors and everyone with whom you come in contact, are agreeable and carry out your desire and thus you will have increased joy and gladness."
All this is in accordance with the justice of your Creator. Because, in your innermost thoughts and secret aims and purposes, you chose either to rebel against Him rather than serve Him, or serve Him rather than rebel against Him.
For what is open and revealed in you and what is concealed in you, are equally known to Him. He will requite you for all that His omniscience observes in you, though it remain hidden from human beings. For do you not see that a human judge decides according to what has been established before him as fact, whether on the evidence of witnesses or by his own senses. If what was in the mind could be established for him, he would also take that into account in his decision. Since the blessed Creator knows everything equally well, it follows that He judges according to His knowledge, as it is said: "The secret things belong to the L-ord, our G-d" (Deut. 29:28).
And when the Creator wishes to arouse you and admonish you, He charges one of the servitors to leave your service; and one or two of your limbs or all of them sicken and become painful for a definite time. If you awake and return to Him, He charges that servitor to return to your service. He heals your body, and it resumes its former function, as it is said: "Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhors all manner of food until they reach the gates of death; Then they cry unto the L-ord in their troubles... He sends His word and heals them" (Ps. 107:17-20).
And when the days of your trial in this world are ended, the exalted Creator commands all those we have mentioned - gates, gate-keepers, servants and servitors - to depart from you and the bonds and connections between you and your body are severed, and you return to your first state. Your body has no movement and no feeling. It also returns to its first state, as the sage said: "Dust will return to the earth as it was: and the spirit will return to G-d who gave it" (Eccles. 12:7) : And then you will be shown the account-books, the record of your deeds and thoughts and what you had chosen and troubled yourself with in your earthly existence; and in accordance with this, will be your requital.
On all this, the Almighty, through His messengers and prophets and His faithful law, has exhorted and warned you, as the sage said: "Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise; put to heart my knowledge; . . . for it is pleasant if you keep them within you . . . Have I not written for you excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you might answer words of truth to them that send unto you" (Prov. 22:17-21).
אָמְרָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ כְּבָר נִחַמְתַּנִי בַּמֶּה שֶׁיֵּאַשְׁתַּנִי מֵהַשִּׂיג סוֹד הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה לְדַקּוּתוֹ וְעֹמֶק עִנְיָנוֹ אַךְ גַּלֵּה לִי סוֹד עִנְיָנִי וְהַכַּוָּנָה בְּהַעֲמָדָתִי בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה.
The Soul: You have comforted me in having made me give up the hope of ever fathoming the mystery of this subject because of its subtlety and depth. But reveal to me the mystery of my existence in this world, its aim and purpose.
וְקָרֵב לִי צוּרַת הַהֶכְרֵחַ וְהַצֶּדֶק בְּכָל יְכָלְתְּךָ מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ הַקְּצָרָה וְלֹא יִהְיֶה עִנְיָנִי כְּעִנְיַן מִי שֶׁלֹּא הֵבִין אָפְנֵי טוֹבָתוֹ מִן הַמְּלָכִים (הממונים) כַּאֲשֶׁר הִגִּיעַנִי. וְהוּא שֶׁבִּקְצָת אִיֵּי הוֹדוּ עִיר אַחַת הִסְכִּימוּ יוֹשְׁבֶיהָ לְמַנּוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם אִישׁ נָכְרִי בְּכָל שָׁנָה וְכַאֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁלַם לוֹ הַשָּׁנָה יוֹצִיאוּהוּ מִבֵּינֵיהֶם וְיַחְזֹר עַל הָעִנְיָן אֲשֶׁר הָיָה עָלָיו קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתְמַנֶּה עֲלֵיהֶם. וְהָיָה בַּמִּתְמַנִּים עֲלֵיהֶם אִישׁ אֶחָד סָכָל לֹא יָדַע סוֹדָם בּוֹ וְקִבֵּץ מָמוֹנוֹת וּבָנָה אַרְמוֹנוֹת וְחִזְּקָם וְלֹא הוֹצִיא מֵעִירָם דָּבָר וְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל לְהָבִיא כָּל אֲשֶׁר הָיָה לוֹ חוּץ לָעִיר מָמוֹן וְאִשָּׁה וּבָנִים אֵלֶיהָ. וְכַאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁלְמָה לוֹ הַשָּׁנָה הוֹצִיאוּהוּ אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר הַהִיא נָעוּר וָרֵיק מִן הַכֹּל וְהִפְרִידוּ בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין כָּל מָה שֶׁבָּנָה וְקָנָה תְּחִלָּה וָסוֹף וְלֹא מָצָא בְּצֵאתוֹ מְאוּמָה מִכָּל מָה שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ בָּעִיר וְחוּצָה לָהּ וְהָיָה מִתְחָרֵט וּמִתְאַבֵּל עַל טָרְחוֹ וְהִשְׁתַּדְּלוּתוֹ בְּמָה שֶׁבָּנָה וְקִבֵּץ וְהָיָה לְזוּלָתוֹ.
And give me, as well as you can and briefly, some approximate conception of necessity and righteousness, so that the same should not happen to me as happened to a king who, as I learned, did not appreciate the various aspects of his good fortune. The story is that in one of the Indian islands, there was a state, the citizens of which decided to appoint over them every year a stranger as a ruler; and when the year had elapsed, they would banish him and he would have to return to the status he had had before he had been appointed over them. Among those elected, one was a fool who knew nothing of their secret plans in regard to him. He accumulated much money, built palaces which he fortified, and sent nothing out of their country. On the contrary, whatever he had outside the state - his money, his wife and children, he brought into it. And when the year was ended, the citizens sent him out, stripped of all his possessions, and deprived of all that he had built or acquired before he entered office up to the time he relinquished it. And so when he left, he had nothing of what had belonged to him in the city and outside it. He grieved and regretted the trouble he had taken and the efforts he had expended on the edifices he had erected and the treasures he had accumulated and which now would go to another person.
וְאַחַר כָּךְ הִסְכִּימָה דַּעְתָּם לְמַנּוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם אִישׁ נָכְרִי נִלְבָּב וְנָבוֹן וְכַאֲשֶׁר נִתְמַנָּה עֲלֵיהֶם בָּחַר מֵהֶם אִישׁ אֶחָד וְהֵטִיב אֵלָיו וְשָׁאַל אוֹתוֹ עַל מִנְהֲגֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים וְדָתֵיהֶם עִם מִי שֶׁנִּתְמַנָּה עֲלֵיהֶם קֹדֶם וְגִלָּה לוֹ סוֹדָם וְדַעְתָּם בּוֹ. וְכַאֲשֶׁר יָדַע הַדָּבָר לֹא נִתְעַסֵּק בִּמְאוּמָה מִמָּה שֶׁנִּתְעַסֵּק בּוֹ הָרִאשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר זָכַרְנוּ אַךְ הִשְׁתַּדֵּל וְטָרַח לְהוֹצִיא כָּל דָּבָר יָקָר שֶׁהָיָה בָּעִיר הַהִיא לְעִיר אַחֶרֶת וְשָׂם כָּל מִכְמַנָּיו וּמַחְמַדָּיו בְּזוּלָתָם (בזולתה) וְלֹא בָּטַח בִּגְדֻלָּתָם וּבִכְבוֹדָם וְהָיָה בֵּין הָאֵבֶל וְהַשִּׂמְחָה כָּל יְמֵי עָמְדוֹ בָּעִיר מִתְאַבֵּל בִּמְהִירוּת יְצִיאָתוֹ מֵאִתָּם וְעַל שֶׁמֻּעָט בְּעֵינָיו מָה שֶׁמּוֹצִיא מִן הַחֲמוּדוֹת כִּי אִם הָיָה עוֹמֵד הָיָה מוֹצִיא יוֹתֵר. וְהָיָה שָׂמֵחַ בְּצֵאתוֹ מְהֵרָה מִמֶּנָּה לְהִתְיַשֵּׁב בְּמָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר שָׁם שָׂם חֲמוּדוֹתָיו וְיִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם בְּאָפְנֵי תּוֹעֲלוֹתָיו וּמִינֵי הֲנָאוֹתָיו בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם וְנֶפֶשׁ בְּטוּחָה וְהַתְמָדַת עִנְיָן.
Afterwards, the citizens decided to appoint as their ruler a stranger who was wise and understanding. After he had been appointed, he selected a person to whom he showed kindness and inquired of him the customs of the people and their laws which they had observed with reference to the one who had preceded him in office. The favorite revealed to the new ruler their secret plan and what they intended to do to him. When he learned this, his activities took a different turn to those of his predecessor. He strove and labored to take everything valuable in the country to the land where he had placed all his other treasures. He did not trust his subjects' exaltation of him nor the honor they showed him. During the whole time he stayed in their country, his mood was in between grief and joy. He was grieved that he would soon have to leave the people, and that the treasures he could bring out were in his estimation, so few. If he could have remained longer, he would have been able to bring out more. But he was glad that he would soon leave and be able to settle in the place where he had put his treasures and would be in a position to use and enjoy them in various ways, with a quiet mind, confident spirit and uninterruptedly.
וּכְשֶׁשָּׁלְמָה שְׁנָתוֹ לֹא דָּאַג עַל צֵאתוֹ מֵאִתָּם אַךְ מִהֵר לַדָּבָר בְּשִׂמְחַת לֵב וּבְסֵבֶר פָּנִים מְשַׁבֵּחַ מַעֲשֵׂהוּ וְהִשְׁתַּדְּלוּתוֹ וְהָלַךְ לְטוֹבָה רַבָּה וְכָבוֹד גָּדוֹל בְּשִׂמְחָה מַתְמֶדֶת וְשָׂמַח בִּשְׁנֵי הָעִנְיָנִים וְהִגִּיעַ אֶל תַּאֲוָתוֹ בִּשְׁנֵי הַמְּקוֹמוֹת.
And after his year was up, he was not troubled at leaving, but prepared for the event speedily, calmly and joyously, with approval of his work and diligence. He was going to great good fortune, honor and enduring joy. So he had happiness in both positions and attained his wishes in both places.
וַאֲנִי יְרֵאָה שֶׁיִּקְרֵנִי מִקְרֶה הַכְּסִיל אֲשֶׁר יָגַע בִּשְׁנֵי הָעִנְיָנִים וְהִפְסִיד בִּשְׁנֵי הַמְּקוֹמוֹת. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁחַנַּנִי הָאֵל אוֹתְךָ הוֹרֵנִי וְהַרְאֵנִי עִנְיָנִי וּמָה שֶׁעָמַדְתָּ עָלָיו מִסּוֹד דְּבָרִי וְאָפְנֵי תַּקָּנָתוֹ (תקנתי).
I fear, however, that what happened to the fool who wearied himself in both matters and lost out in both places, may happen to me. Since G-d has favored me in sending you to be my advisor, please instruct me and show me my position and tell me all you know in regard to the mystery of my being and the ways in which it should be improved.
אָמַר הַשֵּׂכֶל כְּבָר סִפַּרְתְּ בַּמָּשָׁל שֶׁהֵבֵאת צוּרַת עָמְדֵּךְ בָּעוֹלָם וְכִי עִנְיָנֵךְ בּוֹ כְּעִנְיָן הַמְּלָכִים (הממונים) אֲשֶׁר זָכַרְתְּ וּכְבָר הִתְבָּרֵר אֶצְלֵךְ גֵּרוּתֵךְ וּמְהִירוּת יְצִיאָתֵךְ וְאַתְּ צְרִיכָה שֶׁתַּעֲשִׂי מָה שֶׁעָשָׂה הַנִּלְבָּב הַנָּבוֹן שֶׁיִּהְיֶה עִנְיָנֵךְ כְּעִנְיָנוֹ וְאִם תִּטִּי מִמֶּנּוּ אֵין לָךְ תּוֹעֶלֶת בִּדְבָרַי וְלֹא הֲנָאָה בִּמְלִיצָתִי.
The Understanding: In the parable you related, you have already given a picture of your state in this world and shown that your situation therein is like that of the kings you mentioned. You clearly realize that you are a stranger here and will soon depart from it. You should therefore act as the wise and understanding ruler did, so that the outcome in your case may be like his. Should you deviate from this course, my words will be of no use to you, my fine language will bring you no advantage.
אָמְרָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ לוּלֵי חֶפְצִי בַּדָּבָר לֹא הָיִיתִי חוֹקֶרֶת עַל מָה שֶׁנֶּעֱלַם מִמֶּנִּי מֵעִנְיָנִי.
The Soul: If I had no desire in the matter, I would not have troubled to investigate what is hidden from me in regard to my condition.
אָמַר הַשֵּׂכֶל אֲבָל סוֹד דְּבָרֵךְ שֶׁהַבּוֹרֵא בְּרָאֵךְ מִלֹּא דָּבָר בִּכְלַל מָה שֶׁבָּרָא מִן הַגְּרָמִים הָרוּחָנִיִּים וְרָצָה לְנַשְּׂאֵךְ וּלְהָרִים מַעֲלָתֵךְ עַד מַעֲלַת סְגֻלָּתוֹ וּבְחִירָיו וּבָרָיו מִן הַקְּרוֹבִים אֶל אוֹר כְּבוֹדוֹ לְטוֹב לָךְ וּלְחֶסֶד עִמָּךְ וְלֹא הָיִית רְאוּיָה לָזֶה אֶלָּא אַחַר שְׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים.
The Understanding: The mystery of your being is that the Creator created you out of naught, in common with all spiritual beings that He created; and His purpose is to exalt you and elevate you to the high degree of His treasured ones-the chosen and elect who are nearest to the light of His glory-for your good and as a kindness towards you. But you will only be worthy of this favor when three conditions have been fulfilled:
אֶחָד מֵהֶם הָסֵר מָסַךְ הָאִוֶּלֶת מֵעָלָיִךְ וְהָאִיר לָךְ בְּדַעְתּוֹ.
The first is the removal of the curtain of folly from yourself so that He may enlighten you with the gift of His knowledge.
וְהַב׳ נַסּוֹתֵךְ וּבָחֳנֵךְ אִם תִּבְחֲרִי בַּעֲבוֹדָתוֹ אוֹ בְּהַמְרוֹתוֹ.
The second is that you be tried and tested as to whether you will choose to serve Him or rebel against Him.
וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי מְיֻסָּרֵךְ (מוסרך) בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה בְּסִבְלֵךְ עוֹל עֲבוֹדָתוֹ בּוֹ לְהַעֲלוֹתֵךְ אֶל מַעֲלַת הָעֶלְיוֹנִים הַסּוֹבְלִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶם (תהלים קיג) בָּרְכוּ ה׳ מַלְאָכָיו גִּבֹּרֵי כֹחַ עֹשֵׂי דְבָרוֹ. וְלֹא יִתָּכֵן לָךְ זֶה וְאַתְּ עַל עִנְיָנֵךְ הָרִאשׁוֹן.
The third is that He disciplines you in this world by your bearing the yoke of His service, in order to raise you to the degree of the higher beings who serve Him, of whom it is said, "Bless the L-ord, ye His angels, ye mighty in strength, that fulfill His word" (Ps. 103:20). All this could not have been possible if you remained in your former state.
וּמֵחָכְמַת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְעַלֶּה בָּרָא לָךְ הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה בְּכָל אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ מִקּוֹפֵא וְצוֹמֵחַ וְחַי עַל סֵדֶר מְתֻקָּן וְהַנְהָגָה נְכוֹנָה וְהַכֹּל מְתֻקָּן לְתוֹעַלְתֵּךְ וּבָחַר לָךְ מִסְּגֻלַּת יְסוֹדוֹתָיו הֵיכָל מְתֻקָּן דּוֹמֶה לָעוֹלָם בְּשָׁרָשָׁיו וְתוֹלְדוֹתָיו וּתְכוּנָתוֹ וּפָתַח לָךְ בּוֹ חֲמִשָּׁה שְׁעָרִים אֶל הָעוֹלָם וְהִפְקִיד עֲלֵיהֶם חֲמִשָּׁה שׁוֹעֲרִים מִנֶּאֱמָנָיו. וְהַשְּׁעָרִים הֵם כְּלֵי הַחוּשִׁים הָעֵינַיִם וְהָאָזְנַיִם וְהָאַף וְהַלָּשׁוֹן וְהַיָּדַיִם. וְהַשּׁוֹעֲרִים הֵם הַחוּשִׁים הַחֲמִשָּׁה הַמִּשְׁתַּמְּשִׁים בָּהֶם וְהֵם חוּשׁ הָרְאוּת וְחוּשׁ הַשֵּׁמַע וְהָרֵיחַ וְהַטַּעַם וְהַמִּשּׁוּשׁ אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם תַּגִּיעִי אֶל כָּל תּוֹעֲלוֹתַיִךְ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְהֵכִין לָךְ בְּתוֹךְ הַהֵיכָל אַרְבַּע מַעֲלוֹת לְאַרְבָּעָה נְגִידִים לְהַנְהִיגוֹ וְהֵם הַמּוֹחַ וְהַלֵּב וְהַכָּבֵד וְהַבֵּיצִים.
Therefore the exalted Creator, by His wisdom, created for you this world with all that is therein - minerals, plants and living creatures, everything suitably arranged and properly administered - and all for your benefit. Out of the finest elements, He chose for you a palace similar to the world in its origin, foundations, products and form. In this palace he set five gates opening to the external world, and appointed five trustworthy keepers of the gates. Those gates are the organs of the senses - eyes, ears, nose, tongue, hands. The gatekeepers are the five senses which employ these organs, namely, the sense of sight, the sense of hearing, the sense of smell, the sense of taste and the sense of touch, by means of which you are enabled to attain to the knowledge of all that can be useful to you in this world. He also prepared for you in this palace four degrees for the four rulers. These are the brain, the heart, the liver, and the testicles.
וְתִקֵּן בְּתוֹכוֹ עוֹד אַרְבָּעָה אוֹצָרוֹת לְאַרְבָּעָה פְּקִידִים. רְצוֹנִי לוֹמַר הַכֹּחַ הַמּוֹשֵׁךְ וְהַכֹּחַ הַמַּחְזִיק וְהַכֹּחַ הַמְּעַכֵּל וְהַכֹּחַ הַדּוֹחֶה. וְאוֹצְרֹתָם וּמִשְׁכְּנֹתָם הֵם שְׁתֵּי מְרֵרוֹת הַשְּׁחֹרָה וְהָאֲדֻמָּה. וְהַלֵּחָה הַלְּבָנָה וְהַדָּם.
Furthermore, He placed four stores for four officers, namely, the faculty of ingestion, the faculty of retention, the faculty of digestion, the faculty of excretion. Their stores and offices are the two galls-black and green, the white lymphatic fluid and the blood.
לְתַקָּנַת הַהֵיכָל וּפִזֵּר הָעֲבָדִים מִבַּיִת וּמִבַּחוּץ לְעָבְדוֹ וּלְשָׁמְרוֹ. הַפְּנִימִיִּים הַמֵּעַיִם וְהַגִּידִים וְהַמֵּיתָרִים וְהָעֲצַבִּים וְהָעוֹרְקִים. וְהַחִיצוֹנִיִּים הַיָּדַיִם וְהָרַגְלַיִם וְהַלָּשׁוֹן וְהָרֶחֶם וְהַשִּׁנַּיִם וְהַצִּפָּרְנַיִם וְהַדּוֹמֶה לָהֶם.
Within and without this palace, He distributed servants to attend to it and take care of it. Those within are the intestines, veins, sinews, nerves and arteries; those outside are the hands, feet, tongue, teeth, nails and other similar parts.
הֵכִין לָךְ אַחַר כֵּן קְשָׁרִים וּמִצּוּעִים בֵּין הָרוּחָנִיּוּת וּבֵין הַגַּשְׁמִיּוּת. וְהֵם הַדָּם הַנּוֹבֵעַ וְהַחֹם הַטִּבְעִי וְהָרוּחַ הַחִיּוּנִי. ואח״כ חִבְּרֵךְ אֶל הַהֵיכָל הַזֶּה חִבּוּר מְתֻקָּן וּקְשָׁרֵךְ אֵלָיו קֶשֶׁר מְסֻדָּר בִּיכָלְתּוֹ וְחָכְמָתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּשְׁלִימוּ לָךְ הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר זָכַרְתִּי לָךְ.
He furthermore made for you connecting intermediaries between the spiritual and physical, namely, the blood, the natural heat and the life spirit. By His wisdom and power He joined you to this palace in a proper and well-ordered union, so that you might fulfill the three requisites which I mentioned to you.
וְהֵכִין לְךָ לְצָרְכֵּךְ שְׁנֵי יוֹעֲצִים וְהִפְקִיד עֲלֵיהֶם שְׁנֵי סוֹפְרִים וְנָתַן לָךְ מִן הָעֲבָדִים וְהַשַּׁמָּשִׁים בְּצָרְכֵּךְ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה.
He provided you with two counselors. He appointed for them two scribes. He gave you servants and attendants for your needs in this world.
וְהַשְּׁנֵי יוֹעֲצִים הָאֶחָד מֵהֶם הוּא הַשֵּׂכֶל הַמּוֹרֶה אוֹתָךְ מָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בִּרְצוֹן הָאֵל וְהַיּוֹעֵץ הַשֵּׁנִי תַּאֲוָתֵךְ אֲשֶׁר תַּשִּׁיאֵךְ וּתְסִיתֵךְ בְּמָה שֶׁתַּקְצִיף ה׳ אֱלֹהִים בּוֹרְאֵךְ בּוֹ.
Of the two counselors the first is the Understanding which points out to you what the will of G-d is. The second counselor is your lust which entices and seduces you to do that which will arouse the anger of the L-ord, your G-d.
וְהַשְּׁנֵי סוֹפְרִים אֶחָד מֵהֶם כּוֹתֵב מַעֲשַׂיִךְ הַטּוֹבִים בַּסֵּתֶר וּבַגָּלוּי וּבַמַּצְפּוּן וּבַנִּרְאֶה עַל יְדֵי הַמִּשְׁתַּמְּשִׁים בּוֹ מִכָּל מִי שֶׁקָּדַם זִכְרוֹ מִן הַשּׁוֹעֲרִים וְהַנְּגִידִים וְהַפְּקִידִים וְהָעֲבָדִים וְהַיּוֹעֲצִים וְהַמְּשָׁרְתִים וְהַשַּׁמָּשִׁים. וְהַסּוֹפֵר הַשֵּׁנִי הוּא כּוֹתֵב הַמַּעֲשִׂים הָרָעִים עַל הַדֶּרֶךְ הַנִּזְכָּר בַּמַּעֲשִׂים הַטּוֹבִים.
Of the two scribes, one writes down your good deeds, whether done in private or in public, secretly or in the sight of all, through any of those already mentioned whom he placed at your disposition, the gate-keepers, officers, administrators, servants, counselors, attendants and sextons. The second scribe writes down the bad deeds in the same way as we have stated in regard to the good deeds.
וְהַמְּשָׁרְתִים וְהַשַּׁמָּשִׁים הֵם הַמִּדּוֹת הַנַּפְשִׁיּוֹת כְּהַשִּׂמְחָה וְהַדְּאָגָה וְהַשָּׂשׂוֹן וְהַיָּגוֹן וְהַזִּכָּרוֹן וְהַשִּׁכְחָה וְהַחָכְמָה וְהַסִּכְלוּת וְהַגְּבוּרָה וְהַמֹּרֶךְ וְהַנְּדִיבוּת וְהַכִּילוּת וְהַצֶּדֶק וְהָרֶשַׁע וְהַבֹּשֶׁת וְהָעַזּוּת וְהַתִּקְוָה וְהַיִּרְאָה וְהָאַהֲבָה וְהַשִּׂנְאָה וְהַהֲנָאָה וְהַצַּעַר וְהַגַּאֲוָה וְהָעֲנָוָה וְהַשְּׂרָרָה וְהַשִּׁפְלוּת, וְהַרְבֵּה כָּאֵלּוּ מִמָּה שֶׁאַתְּ מִשְׁתַּמֶּשֶׁת בָּהֶם בְּמַצְפּוּנֵךְ.
The servitors and sextons are the soul's moods and qualities - cheerfulness, anxiety, gladness, joy and grief, memory and forgetfulness, wisdom and folly, courage and timidity, generosity and miserliness, righteousness and wickedness, bashfulness and arrogance, hope and apprehension, love and hate, pleasure and pain, pride and modesty, domination and submissiveness, and many similar dispositions which you use with your inner being.
וְהַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ צִוָּה הַשּׁוֹעֲרִים וְהַנְּגִידִים וְהַפְּקִידִים וְהָעֲבָדִים וְהַיּוֹעֲצִים וְהַמְּשָׁרְתִים וְהַשַּׁמָּשִׁים לִשְׁמֹעַ לָךְ וְלַעֲמֹד לְמִצְוָתֵךְ עַד קֵץ יָדוּעַ אֶלָּא בְּעִנְיָנִים מְיֻחָדִים בָּאָדָם (בֵּאֲרָם) לָהֶם בְּעֵת הִתְחַבְּרוּתָם אֵלַיִךְ וְהֵם עִנְיַן הַהֶכְרֵחַ וּמְקוֹם הַגְּזֵרָה.
The blessed Creator appointed these watchmen, leaders and administrators, servants, counselors, servitors and sextons, to listen to you and be ready to do your bidding, up to a definite period, except in certain matters which He explained to them when they were brought into association with you. Those are the matters wherein necessity and the divine decree prevail.
וְהִתִּיר לָךְ לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּכֻלָּם בְּתַקָּנַת גּוּפֵךְ וּבְכָל מָה שֶׁהִשְׁלִיטֵךְ לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ בעוה״ז עַל פָּנִים יְדוּעִים וּבְעִנְיָנִים מְיֻחָדִים וְהֵם כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת הַשִּׂכְלִיּוֹת וְהַשִּׁמְעִיּוֹת וְהַמֻּתָּרוֹת.
In other words, He gave you liberty to make use of all these aids for the improvement of your physical well-being and to do everything over which the Almighty gave you control and power, but only in certain ways and under certain conditions. These are comprised in the duties indicated by our natural Reason, or that are to be accepted on divine authority (torah), or that are permitted.
וְאָמַר לָךְ כָּל אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּיו בְּיָדֵךְ וְהִשְׁלַטְתִּיךְ לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ בעוה״ז אַל יַשִּׁיאֵךְ כִּי לֹא יוֹסִיף לָךְ בְּעַצְמֵךְ מְאוּמָה וְלֹא יִגְרַע וְלֹא תַּגִּיעַ אֵלַיִךְ מִמֶּנּוּ הֲנָאָה וְלֹא צַעַר אַךְ הֵם דְּבָרִים מִתְחַדְּשִׁים עַל גּוּפֵךְ מִבַּיִת אוֹ מִחוּץ אֵין דָּבָר מֵהֶם לְצָרְכֵּךְ. וְהֵם מִמֵּךְ כְּשִׁלְיָא מִן הַוָּלָד וְכִקְלִפַּת הַבֵּיצָה מִן הָאֶפְרוֹחַ.
And He said to you: "Whatever I have put into your hands in this world and placed under your control, must not entice you, since none of them can contribute anything to your essential being nor take anything from it; nor will you obtain from any of them either pleasure or pain, for they are only things that incidentally affect your body, externally or inwardly. None of them is necessary for you. Their relation to you is that of the embryonic sack to the new-born baby or the egg-shell to the hatched chick.
וְאִם תָּבִינִי וְתַשְׁכִּילִי כַּוָּנָתִי בָּךְ וְטוֹבָתִי עָלַיִךְ וְתִבְחֲרִי בַּעֲבוֹדָתִי וְתִרְחֲקִי מֵהַמְרוֹתִי בְּהַנְהָגַת כָּל מָה שֶׁהִשְׁלַטְתִּיךְ בּוֹ אַעֲלֵךְ אֶל הַגְּדוֹלָה שֶׁבְּמַעֲלוֹת בְּחִירַי וּסְגֻלָּתִי וַאֲקָרְבֵךְ אֶל רַחֲמַי וְאַלְבִּישֵׁךְ זִיו כְּבוֹדִי. וְאִם תִּבְחֲרִי בְּהַמְרוֹתִי אֶעֶנְשֵׁךְ עֹנֶשׁ גָּדוֹל וַאֲעַנֵּךְ עִנּוּי אָרוֹךְ.
[G-d continues] "If you will understand and comprehend My intention towards you and the benefit which I have bestowed upon you, and you choose My service, and keep far from rebelling against Me in the management of everything over which I have given you control, I will raise you to the highest of the degrees attained by My elect and favored ones. I will draw you closer to My mercy and love, and enfold you with the radiance of My glory. But if you choose to rebel against Me, I will punish you with a severe punishment and afflict you with prolonged affliction."
וְאִם תִּסְכְּלִי אָפְנֵי הַשִּׁמּוּשׁ בָּהֶם בְּאֶחָד מִן הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר חִיַּבְתִּיךְ בָּהֶם בַּעֲבוֹדָתִי מִפְּנֵי טִרְדָּתֵךְ בְּגוּפֵךְ וְעִסְקֵךְ (ועסקיו) אֲשֶׁר נִסִּיתִיךְ בָּהֶם. הִנֵּה יִחַדְתִּי לָךְ יוֹעֵץ חָכָם נֶאֱמָן כְּשֶׁתִּשְׁאֲלִי עֲצָתוֹ יוֹרֶה אוֹתָךְ וְאִם תִּתְעַלְּמִי יְעִירֵךְ. וְהוּא הַשֵּׂכֶל הִתְיַעֲצִי עִמּוֹ בְּכָל דְּבָרַיִךְ כִּי הוּא יְצַוֵּךְ לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּכָל הָעוֹמְדִים לְפָנַיִךְ בְּאָפְנֵי עֲבוֹדָתוֹ וְתָשֹׁבְנָה הַמִּדּוֹת הַמְגֻנּוֹת מְשֻׁבָּחוֹת. כַּאֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה הָרוֹפֵא הֶחָכָם שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּסַמִּים שֶׁדַּרְכָּם לְהַזִּיק בְּתוֹעֶלֶת הַגּוּפוֹת כַּסַּמִּים הַמְּמִיתִים וְזוּלָתָם.
[G-d continues] "If you are ignorant of the modes in which you should use any of the things which pertain to your service of Me which I have appointed unto you as your duty and obligation, because you are too much occupied with your body and its concerns, with which I test you, I have appointed for you a counselor, wise and faithful. When you ask his advice, he will instruct you. If you ignore him he will arouse you. This counselor is the Understanding. Take counsel with him in all your affairs, for he will recommend you how to employ all your servitors who stand before you, in the right way of serving Me. The reprehensible qualities will be transformed into praiseworthy ones, even as does the wise physician, making use of injurious and even poisonous drugs for the benefit of the body."
וְאִם תִּהְיֶה עַל הַדַּעַת הַזֹּאת וְתַגְבִּירִי שִׂכְלֵךְ וְתִשָּׁמְעִי לַעֲצָתוֹ יִכְתֹּב סוֹפֵר הַמַּעֲשִׂים הַטּוֹבִים כָּל תְּנוּעוֹתַיִךְ הַמֻּתָּרוֹת בִּכְלַל הַמַּעֲשִׂים הַטּוֹבִים וְתִהְיֶינָה נוֹסָפוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם וְיִהְיוּ כָּל שַׁמָּשַׁיִךְ עוֹזְרִים לָךְ בַּעֲבוֹדָתִי.
[G-d continues] "If you will continue to be of this mind, and strengthen your Understanding, and listen to his advice, the scribe who writes down good deeds will count all your permitted (neutral) movements among your good deeds to which they will be added, and all your servitors will help you in My service."
וְאִם תַּמְרִי אֶת עֲצָתוֹ וְתִטִּי לְדַעַת הַיּוֹעֵץ הַשֵּׁנִי שֶׁהוּא כְּנֶגְדּוֹ בְּכָל עִנְיָנָיו וְתִשְׁתַּמְּשִׁי בָּהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר יִיעָצֵךְ תָּשֹׁבְנָה מִדּוֹתַיִךְ הַמְּשֻׁבָּחוֹת מְגֻנּוֹת כָּרוֹפֵא הַכְּסִיל אֲשֶׁר יָמִית בַּסַּמִּים הַמּוֹעִילִים מִפְּנֵי סִכְלוּתוֹ בְּאָפְנֵי שִׁמּוּשָׁם, וְיִכְתֹּב סוֹפֵר הָרָעוֹת כָּל תְּנוּעוֹתַיִךְ הַמֻּתָּרוֹת בִּכְלַל רָעוֹתַיִךְ וְתִהְיֶינָה נוֹסָפוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם.
[G-d continues] "But if you dismiss his advice and incline to the view of the second counselor who is in all respects his opponent, and use all the means placed at your disposal as he advises you, then your praiseworthy qualities will become reprehensible, even as the incompetent physician in his ignorance kills patients by his inexpert use of useful medicines. And the scribe, appointed to write down evil deeds will write, down all your permitted (neutral) movements and enter them in the record of your evil deeds, to which they will be added."
וְתִמְצְאִי עוֹזְרַיִךְ וְשַׁמָּשַׁיִךְ וּמְשָׁרְתַיִךְ וְכָל מִי שֶׁתִּפְגְּעִי בּוֹ מַסְכִּימִים עַל רְצוֹנֵךְ וּמְפִיקִים חֶפְצֵךְ וְתוֹסִיפִי בָּהֶם שִׂמְחָה וְשָׂשׂוֹן.
[G-d continues] "You will find that your aids, attendants and servitors and everyone with whom you come in contact, are agreeable and carry out your desire and thus you will have increased joy and gladness."
וְכָל זֶה צֶדֶק מִבּוֹרְאֵךְ עַל בַּחֲרֵךְ הַמְרוֹתוֹ מֵעֲבוֹדָתוֹ אוֹ עֲבוֹדָתוֹ מֵהַמְרוֹתוֹ בְּמַצְפּוּנֵךְ וּבְכַוָּנָתֵךְ בְּסִתְרֵךְ.
All this is in accordance with the justice of your Creator. Because, in your innermost thoughts and secret aims and purposes, you chose either to rebel against Him rather than serve Him, or serve Him rather than rebel against Him.
כִּי הַנִּגְלֶה וְהַנִּסְתָּר מִמֵּךְ שָׁוִים אֶצְלוֹ וְהוּא יִגְמְלֵךְ עַל מָה שֶׁהִשְׁקִיף עָלָיו מִמֵּךְ מִכָּל זֶה. וְאִם נֶעְלַם מב״א הֲלֹא תִּרְאֶה כִּי הַדַּיָּן הוּא דָּן כְּפִי מַה שֶׁנִּתְקַיֵּם אֶצְלוֹ אִם בְּעֵדִים אוֹ בְּחוּשָׁיו וְאִם הָיָה מִתְקַיֵּם אֶצְלוֹ מָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בַּמַּצְפּוּנִים הָיָה דָּן עָלָיו וְהַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ שֶׁיְּדִיעָתוֹ בַּכֹּל שָׁוָה מִן הַדִּין הוּא שֶׁיִּשְׁפֹּט כְּפִי יְדִיעָתוֹ כמ״ש הַכָּתוּב (דברים כט) הַנִּסְתָּרוֹת לַה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וְגוֹ׳.
For what is open and revealed in you and what is concealed in you, are equally known to Him. He will requite you for all that His omniscience observes in you, though it remain hidden from human beings. For do you not see that a human judge decides according to what has been established before him as fact, whether on the evidence of witnesses or by his own senses. If what was in the mind could be established for him, he would also take that into account in his decision. Since the blessed Creator knows everything equally well, it follows that He judges according to His knowledge, as it is said: "The secret things belong to the L-ord, our G-d" (Deut. 29:28).
וּכְשֶׁיִּרְצֶה הַבּוֹרֵא לְהָעִיר אוֹתָךְ וּלְהוֹכִיחֵךְ יְצַוֶּה אֶחָד מִן הַמְּשָׁרְתִים לְהִסְתַּלֵּק מֵעֲבוֹדָתֵךְ וְיֶחֱלֶה הָאֵבָר הַהוּא מִגּוּפֵךְ אוֹ שְׁנַיִם אוֹ כֻּלָּם וְיֶחֱלֶה וְיִדְוֶה עַד עֵת יָדוּעַ. וְאִם תָּקִיצִי וְתָשׁוּבִי אֵלָיו יְצַוֵּהוּ לָשׁוּב לַעֲבוֹדָתֵךְ וִירַפֵּא גּוּפֵךְ וְיָשׁוּב לְעִנְיָנוֹ הָרִאשׁוֹן כמ״ש הַכָּתוּב (תהלים קז) אֱוִילִים מִדֶּרֶךְ פִּשְׁעָם וְגוֹ׳ כָּל אֹכֶל תְּתַעֵב נַפְשָׁם וְגוֹ׳ וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל ה׳ וְגוֹ׳ יִשְׁלַח דְּבָרוֹ וְיִרְפָּאֵם וְגוֹ׳.
And when the Creator wishes to arouse you and admonish you, He charges one of the servitors to leave your service; and one or two of your limbs or all of them sicken and become painful for a definite time. If you awake and return to Him, He charges that servitor to return to your service. He heals your body, and it resumes its former function, as it is said: "Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhors all manner of food until they reach the gates of death; Then they cry unto the L-ord in their troubles... He sends His word and heals them" (Ps. 107:17-20).
וְכַאֲשֶׁר יִשְׁלְמוּ יְמֵי נִסְיוֹנֵךְ בעוה״ז יְצַוֶּה הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְעַלֶּה כָּל מִי שֶׁזָּכַרְנוּ מִן הַשְּׁעָרִים וְהַשּׁוֹעֲרִים וְהָעֲבָדִים וְהַמְּשָׁרְתִים לָשׁוּב מֵעָלַיִךְ וְיִנָּתְקוּ הַקְּשָׁרִים וְהַמִּצּוּעִים אֲשֶׁר בֵּינֵךְ וּבֵין גּוּפָךְ וְתָשׁוּבִי אֶל עִנְיָנֵךְ הָרִאשׁוֹן וְיִשָּׁאֵר גּוּפֵךְ אֵין תְּנוּעָה לוֹ וְלֹא הַרְגָּשָׁה. וְיָשׁוּב גַּם הוּא לְעִנְיָנוֹ הָרִאשׁוֹן כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הֶחָכָם (קהלת יב) וְיָשֹׁב הֶעָפָר עַל הָאָרֶץ כְּשֶׁהָיָה וְהָרוּחַ תָּשׁוּב אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר נְתָנָהּ. וְיֵרָאֶה לָךְ פִּנְקְסֵי מַעֲשַׂיִךְ וּמַחְשְׁבוֹתַיִךְ וַחֲפָצַיִךְ וּמָה שֶׁבָּחַרְתְּ וְהִטְרַדְתְּ נַפְשֵׁךְ בּוֹ בְּעוֹלָמֵךְ וְיִהְיֶה הַגְּמוּל כְּפִיהוּ.
And when the days of your trial in this world are ended, the exalted Creator commands all those we have mentioned - gates, gate-keepers, servants and servitors - to depart from you and the bonds and connections between you and your body are severed, and you return to your first state. Your body has no movement and no feeling. It also returns to its first state, as the sage said: "Dust will return to the earth as it was: and the spirit will return to G-d who gave it" (Eccles. 12:7) : And then you will be shown the account-books, the record of your deeds and thoughts and what you had chosen and troubled yourself with in your earthly existence; and in accordance with this, will be your requital.
וּכְבָר הִזְהִירֵךְ עַל זֶה וְהִתְרָה בָּךְ עַל יְדֵי שְׁלוּחָיו וּנְבִיאָיו וְתוֹרָתוֹ הַנֶּאֱמָנָה כמ״ש הֶחָכָם (משלי כב) הַט אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמַע דִּבְרֵי חֲכָמִים כִּי נָעִים כִּי תִשְׁמְרֵם בְּבִטְנֶךָ וְגוֹ׳ הֲלֹא כָתַבְתִּי לְךָ שָׁלִישִׁים בְּמוֹעֵצֹת וָדָעַת לְהוֹדִיעֲךָ קֹשְׁטְ אִמְרֵי אֱמֶת לְהָשִׁיב אֲמָרִים אֱמֶת לְשֹׁלְחֶיךָ:
On all this, the Almighty, through His messengers and prophets and His faithful law, has exhorted and warned you, as the sage said: "Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise; put to heart my knowledge; . . . for it is pleasant if you keep them within you . . . Have I not written for you excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you might answer words of truth to them that send unto you" (Prov. 22:17-21).