Since the topic of our preceding discussion was placing one's trust in G-d, I deemed proper to follow with a clarification of the ways in which it is incumbent to devote all actions of religious service to G-d alone. For this leads to purification of thought and heart from mixtures of other intents which diminish the quality of the actions, and saves one from all sorts of embellishment and flattery to try to win the approval of other people, as Elihu said "I will show partiality to no one, nor will I flatter any man" (Iyov 32:21).
בְּבֵאוּר אָפְנֵי חִיּוּב הֱיוֹת כָּל מַעֲשֵׂינוּ מְיֻחָדִים לִשְׁמוֹ וּלְהִזָּהֵר מִן הַחֹנֶף. וְזֶה פֶּתַח הַשַּׁעַר:
אָמַר הַמְחַבֵּר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקָּדַם מַאֲמָרֵנוּ בַּבִּטָּחוֹן עַל הָאֱלֹהִים יִתְבָּרַךְ רָאִינוּ לִסְמֹךְ לוֹ בֵּאוּר אָפְנֵי חִיּוּב הֱיוֹת כָּל מַעֲשֵׂי הָעֲבוֹדָה מְיֻחָדִים לֵאלֹהִים לְבַדּוֹ בַּעֲבוּר מָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּדָבָר זֶה מִזַּכּוּת הַמַּצְפּוּנִים וּבֹר הַלְּבָבוֹת מִן הָעִרְבּוּב הַמַּפְסִיד אוֹתָם וְהַהַצָּלָה מִמִּינֵי הַיִּפּוּי הַמֵּבִיא אֶל הַחֹנֶף וּלְהִתְרַצּוֹת בַּחֲלָקוֹת לַבְּרוּאִים כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר אֱלִיהוּא (איוב לב) אַל נָא אֶשָּׂא פְנֵי אִישׁ וְאֶל אָדָם לֹא אֲכַנֶּה כִּי לֹא יָדַעְתִּי אֲכַנֶּה.
Since the topic of our preceding discussion was placing one's trust in G-d, I deemed proper to follow with a clarification of the ways in which it is incumbent to devote all actions of religious service to G-d alone. For this leads to purification of thought and heart from mixtures of other intents which diminish the quality of the actions, and saves one from all sorts of embellishment and flattery to try to win the approval of other people, as Elihu said "I will show partiality to no one, nor will I flatter any man" (Iyov 32:21).