One who has transgressed a sin for which repentance is difficult, the particular sin necessarily falls into one of two categories. One, that the sin is between him and G-d. Two, that the sin is between him and his fellow men, such as overcharging, various types of theft and trickery, violence, and oppression.
Whatever category it belongs to, if the repentance is difficult due to one of the factors we previously mentioned (last chapter) which cause repentance to be difficult, then, if the person takes on himself to fulfill the requirements of repentance with all its conditions to the utmost extent that is in his power and ability to do, the Creator will make his repentance easier. He will pardon what is hidden from him and not in his ability to do, and will give him a nearer exit for deliverance from his sin and allow him to absolve himself in this way (as will be explained).
If the sin is in the category of forbidden relations, which we mentioned, for one who fathers from an illicit relation (a mamzer), the Creator will wipe out his descendants (from the mamzer).
If he hurt his fellow physically or damaged his possessions, the Creator will put in his fellow's heart favor and love until he forgives him for his sin towards him, as written: "When the L-ord favors a person's ways, He will cause even his enemies to make peace with him" (Mishlei 16:7).
If the oppressed is far away, the Creator will arrange their meeting, and the oppressor will humble himself before the oppressed and will be forgiven by him.
If he doesn't know the number of people he oppressed and the amount of money he took, the Creator will give him the opportunity to spend his money in some kind of public project, such as building a bridge, digging a well to benefit the public, or digging water pits in roads where water is scarce, or other similar things to benefit the public, until the project will serve the one he oppressed and also the one he did not oppress.
If the oppressed died, he should return the money to his heirs. If he hurt him physically or he spoke badly of him, he should confess at his grave with a minyan of ten Jews and he will be forgiven for his sin, as our sages on this matter said: "And if he had died, he should bring ten Jews and to stand by his grave and say: I have sinned against the L-ord, the G-d of Israel, and against this man, whom I have hurt." (Yoma 87a).
Repentance is not withheld from a sinner, rather the obstruction comes from his own wickedness and deceitful heart. But if he sincerely wants to draw near to G-d, the gate of repentance will not be closed before him, and no obstacle will prevent him from reaching it. Rather, G-d will open for him the gate of the just, and teach him the good path in His mercy and in His goodness, as written "Good and upright is the L-ord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way" (Tehilim 25:8), and "from there you will seek the L-ord your G-d, and you will find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Devarim 4:29), and "Rather,[this] thing (repentance) is very close to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it"(Devarim 30:14), and "The L-ord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth" (Tehilim 145:18).
FINAL WORDS I have already clarified for you, my brother, some of the obligations of repentance, and I revealed to you some of the ways to return (to G-d). Now, there are grounds for a claim against you, and your escapes are gone. What will you answer tomorrow to G-d? - "I was ignorant (that I needed to repent)" - but you were not ignorant! Or maybe you will answer: "I did what I did, but I didn't know (how to repent)".
What will be your answer to this question? And there's no doubt that we will be asked. Prepare the repentance while (G-d) is still pushing off (your punishment, to give you an opportunity to repent). Know my brother that the answer to this question will not be acceptable with our words but only with our deeds. Think to yourself, make a personal accounting of how you can obtain favor from your Creator, know that only one who hastens will reach the good, and the fruit of not doing enough will be regret.
Wake up my brother from the slumber of your simplemindedness. Have mercy on your soul, which is the most important deposit of all the deposits the Creator entrusted by you. How long, and how much longer will you procrastinate in this? You have already consumed your days gratifying your selfish desires, like a base slave, now return and finish your remaining days following the desire of your Creator. You already know that the lifetime of a man is brief, and what remains of your life is still briefer, as our sages said: "the day is short and the workload is great" (Avos 2:15).
You have, my brother, a precious and exalted spirit. With it, you honored this fleeting and lowly world and you abandoned your end that you will be left with. Should you not lift up your spirit to think of that exalted place, the high abode, the place where the spirits which ascend to there will not be lowered from their exaltedness forever. Hurry, while the gates of repentance are open and the acceptance and atonement are still available, as written "Seek the L-ord while He is found, call to Him while He is still near" (Yeshaya 55:6).
Hurry my brother, hurry before the horror you dread comes, because you are not assured that you will live for even one more day. Examine yourself with a careful and weighed examination according to what is proper and possible for one like you.
And he who wants to obtain the favor of his Creator will enter through the narrow opening through which the pious who bear in this world (in the service of G-d). All of us hope for the good. But only those who hasten towards it will reach it, who run towards it, as our sages said: "Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer and mighty as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven" (Avos 5:23), and David said: "I hastened and delayed not to keep Your commandments" (Tehilim 119:60).
Take counsel with your soul. Be ashamed to act with your Creator in a way that you would be ashamed to act with even a human being like yourself. For, you know that if you angered even a low ranking official of the king, you would not delay to humble yourself to him, and to plea to him to forgive you, so that he will not punish you, even though he has little power in this. All the more so if a high ranking officer were to be angry at you, and even more so if it was the king himself, that you would hasten to seek forgiveness from him, show remorse to him, and try to appease him out of your fear of being swiftly punished. Yet you already know (from the gate of trust of this book), his helplessness of being able to do anything without the decree of the Creator, as the wise man said: "A king's heart is like rivulets of water in the L-ord's hand; wherever He wishes, He turns it" (Mishlei 21:1). All this despite that (he may never get around to punishing you due to) his reign ending, his kingdom being overthrown, his mind confused or distracted by his numerous matters, forgetting or overlooking you. This happens for revealed things, all the more so for hidden things. Despite your knowledge of all of this, you would not delay to seek from him a pardon to your transgression. You would rush to do that which will appease him and be acceptable to him. My brother, how then can we not be ashamed of our Creator, who observes what is revealed as well as what is concealed of all our deeds and thoughts. He is not subject to forgetting nor overlooking anything. No matter can distract Him from another matter. None can escape from His justice, and there is no end to His reign? How can we turn away from Him, or delay humbling ourselves before Him and repenting to Him, while we don't know our final end nor the number of days we have been allotted.
If a man were to visit a village or province and announce to the people saying: "People, be prepared to go on to the next world, for one of you will pass away this month, but I will not reveal who it is". Is it not proper for each person to prepare for death, for fear he is that man?
And we can see that every month, death consumes a large number of the living. Surely it is proper for us to fear for our souls every month, at least for one day, and to reflect on our matter and provisions and final destination before we need them, as our sages said: "repent one day before your death" (Avos 2:10), and "at all times let your garments be white" (Koheles 9:8, i.e. that you are clean of sin).
With your superior intellect and recognition examine what you see with your own eyes, and it will be clearer to you than if you had only heard it from someone else.
Do not push away that which your intellect and understanding [obligate you to do - PL], since it was already said: the Creator bestows many good things to His servants (wisdom, etc), if they accept them (use them to serve Him), they will gain. But if they refuse them (use them to rebel against Him), they will become grounds for a claim against them, and afterwards a reason to exact retribution against them.
The Creator did good to you. He bestowed you with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. He gave you of them more than another. Be careful, and be careful - that they don't turn to become grounds for a claim against you.
He has already stirred you to the straight way (through this book), and taught you the path leading to your good, out of mercy for you, and to guide you gently. He didn't want you to continue in your foolishness, and continue in your rebelliousness, He conducts with you in the way of kindness as befitting Him, and out of pity and mercy for His creations, as written "Good and upright is the L-ord; therefore does He instruct sinners in the way" (Tehilim 25:8). He has already called you gently and with a soft language, and afterwards with rebukes and embarrassments, and finally threatened you with His punishment, in order that you repent to Him, and speedily return to His service.
Hurry my brother, and hurry to lend ear to Him. Listen to His voice, and cling to Him. Choose for your soul what your G-d has chosen for it. Desire for it what your Creator desired for it. Do not allow laziness to make you lax in it, because if your own soul is light in your eyes, then what else will be important by you?
Be careful lest the thoughts of your mind (evil inclination) entice you saying: "Now?! After my long protracted neglect of the service of G-d, and the passing of most of my days, how can I now return to G-d and seek His forgiveness?!"
You should reply to him (the evil inclination) as the prophet spoke of this matter: "And when the righteous turns from his righteousness and does wrong.... All his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered; in his treachery that he has perpetrated and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.... And when a wicked man repents of his wickedness that he has done, and does justice and righteousness, he shall save his soul alive; Because he considered, and turned away from all his transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die." (Yechezkel 18:24-27), until the end of the matter.
The early ones already compared this to a man who had in his possession silver coins, and he needed to cross a big river, when he reached the river bank, he threw all the coins in the river hoping to slow its flow and walk over the coins, and he threw all of them except for one that remained in his hand, and the current was not stopped by the coins, when he saw this, he said to one of the sailors who happened to pass on the river: "take this coin which is in my hand, and take me through the river with your boat". The sailor did this, and the man reached his desire with the remaining coin that was in his hand. He accomplished more with that coin than all the coins he lost in the river, and it was as if he didn't lose anything.
Likewise, a baal teshuva (penitent) who wasted most of his life in things other than the service of G-d, if he repents at the end of his days, the Creator will forgive him for all of what happened of the bad deeds of all of his previous days, as written: "None of his transgressions that he had committed shall be remembered against him; [for his righteousness that he had done he shall live]" (Yechezkel 18:22), and "None of his sins that he had committed shall be remembered against him; [he performed justice and righteousness; he shall surely live]"(Yechezkel 33:16).
Let it not be too wearying, my brother, my exhorting you on guarding yourself, which you have neglected for so long to do. Because I am speaking not only to you but to myself also. Submit to the truth. Do not run away from it. Thank the Al-mighty who aroused you on that which you did not know, and let not the long hiding of other people be an excuse for you, because this is one of the distortions and snare of the yetzer (evil inclination) for people who are of weak understanding.
אֲבָל אֵיךְ אֹפֶן הַתַּחְבּוּלָה לְמִי שֶׁקָּשְׁתָה עָלָיו הַתְּשׁוּבָה? נֹאמַר בִּתְשׁוּבַת הַשְּׁאֵלָה הַזֹּאת כִּי,
What strategy should be adopted by one for whom repentance is difficult? We will answer this question as follows:
מִי שֶׁעָבַר עֲבֵרָה מִן הָעֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁיִּקְשֶׁה לְתַקְּנָהּ בְּאֹפֶן הַתְּשׁוּבָה הַמְיֻחֶדֶת בָּהּ אֵינָהּ נִמְלֶטֶת מֵאֶחָד מִשְּׁנֵי דְּבָרִים. אוֹ שֶׁתִּהְיֶה מִן הָעֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁבֵּינוֹ וּבֵין בּוֹרְאוֹ אוֹ שֶׁתִּהְיֶה מִן הָעֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁבֵּינוֹ וּבֵין בְּנֵי אָדָם כְּמוֹ הָאוֹנָאָה וְהַגְּנֵבָה וּמִינֵי הַגְּזֵלוֹת וְהֶחָמָס וְהָעָוֶל.
One who has transgressed a sin for which repentance is difficult, the particular sin necessarily falls into one of two categories. One, that the sin is between him and G-d. Two, that the sin is between him and his fellow men, such as overcharging, various types of theft and trickery, violence, and oppression.
וּמֵאֵיזֶה מֵהֶם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה וְתִהְיֶה הַתְּשׁוּבָה נִמְנַעַת עָלָיו לְאֶחָד מִן הַפָּנִים שֶׁהִקְדַּמְנוּ שֶׁהַתְּשׁוּבָה מֵהֶם קָשָׁה כְּשֶׁיְּקַבֵּל עָלָיו גִּדְרֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה בְּכָל תְּנָאֶיהָ אֲשֶׁר בְּכֹחוֹ וִיכָלְתּוֹ מֵהֶם הַבּוֹרֵא מֵקֵל עָלָיו תְּשׁוּבָתוֹ וְעוֹבֵר לוֹ עַל מָה שֶׁנֶּעֱלַם מִמֶּנּוּ וְנִמְנַע עָלָיו וְיָשִׂים לוֹ מוֹצָא קָרוֹב מֵחֶטְאוֹ וְיַרְחִיב אֲמַתְלָאָתוֹ בּוֹ,
Whatever category it belongs to, if the repentance is difficult due to one of the factors we previously mentioned (last chapter) which cause repentance to be difficult, then, if the person takes on himself to fulfill the requirements of repentance with all its conditions to the utmost extent that is in his power and ability to do, the Creator will make his repentance easier. He will pardon what is hidden from him and not in his ability to do, and will give him a nearer exit for deliverance from his sin and allow him to absolve himself in this way (as will be explained).
וְאִם יִהְיֶה מִשַּׁעַר הָעֲרָיוֹת אֲשֶׁר זָכַרְנוּ בְּמִי שֶׁהוֹלִיד מֵאֲסוּרָה יַכְרִית הַבּוֹרֵא אֶת זַרְעוֹ,
If the sin is in the category of forbidden relations, which we mentioned, for one who fathers from an illicit relation (a mamzer), the Creator will wipe out his descendants (from the mamzer).
וְאִם הוּא מִצַּד אוֹנָאָה וְגָזֵל בְּמָמוֹנוֹ יִתֵּן לוֹ הָאֵל מָמוֹן וְיִפְרָעֶנּוּ לַחֲבֵרוֹ וִירַצֵּהוּ וְיִמְחֹל לוֹ,
If it is from overcharging or theft of money, G-d will give him money to pay back his fellow and appease him so that the latter will forgive him.
וְאִם הֵרַע לַחֲבֵרוֹ בְּגוּפוֹ אוֹ בְּמָמוֹנוֹ יַכְנִיס לוֹ הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּלִבּוֹ רָצוֹן וְאַהֲבָה עַד שֶׁיִּמְחֹל לוֹ בְּמָה שֶׁהָיָה מֵחֶטְאוֹ עָלָיו כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר (משלי טז) בִּרְצוֹת ה׳ דַּרְכֵי אִישׁ גַּם אוֹיְבָיו יַשְׁלִם אִתּוֹ.
If he hurt his fellow physically or damaged his possessions, the Creator will put in his fellow's heart favor and love until he forgives him for his sin towards him, as written: "When the L-ord favors a person's ways, He will cause even his enemies to make peace with him" (Mishlei 16:7).
וְאִם יִרְחַק מִמֶּנּוּ הֶעָשׁוּק יַזְמִין הַבּוֹרֵא הִתְקַבְּצָם עַד שֶׁיִּכָּנַע לְפָנָיו הָעוֹשֵׁק וְיִמְחֹל לוֹ.
If the oppressed is far away, the Creator will arrange their meeting, and the oppressor will humble himself before the oppressed and will be forgiven by him.
וְאִם לֹא יֵדַע הָאֲנָשִׁים הָעֲשׁוּקִים וּמִסְפַּר הַמָּמוֹן אֲשֶׁר עָשַׁק יָפִיק אוֹתוֹ הָאֵל לְהוֹצִיא מָמוֹנוֹ בְּתוֹעָלוֹת כּוֹלְלוֹת כְּבִנְיָן גֶּשֶׁר וַחֲפוֹר בְּאֵרוֹת יֵהָנוּ מֵהֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם וַעֲשׂוֹת בּוֹרוֹת בִּדְרָכִים שֶׁאֵין הַמַּיִם מְצוּיִים בָּהֶם וּמָה שֶׁדּוֹמֶה לָזֶה מִתּוֹעֶלֶת הֶהָמוֹן עַד שֶׁתִּהְיֶה תּוֹעַלְתּוֹ כּוֹלֶלֶת מִי שֶׁעָשַׁק וּמִי שֶׁלֹּא עָשַׁק.
If he doesn't know the number of people he oppressed and the amount of money he took, the Creator will give him the opportunity to spend his money in some kind of public project, such as building a bridge, digging a well to benefit the public, or digging water pits in roads where water is scarce, or other similar things to benefit the public, until the project will serve the one he oppressed and also the one he did not oppress.
וְאִם יָמוּת הֶעָשׁוּק יָשִׁיב הַמָּמוֹן לְיוֹרְשָׁיו וְאִם הִזִּיק לוֹ בְּגוּפוֹ אוֹ שֶׁסִּפֵּר בִּגְנוּתוֹ יִתְוַדֶּה עַל קִבְרוֹ בָּזֶה בְּמַעֲמַד עֲשָׂרָה בְּנֵי אָדָם וְיִמָּחֵל לוֹ עֲוֹנוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲזַ״ל בָּעִנְיָן הַזֶּה מוֹלִיךְ עֲשָׂרָה ב״א וּמַעֲמִידָם עַל קִבְרוֹ וְאוֹמֵר חָטָאתִי לַה׳ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלִפְלוֹנִי זֶה שֶׁחָבַלְתִּי בּוֹ.
If the oppressed died, he should return the money to his heirs. If he hurt him physically or he spoke badly of him, he should confess at his grave with a minyan of ten Jews and he will be forgiven for his sin, as our sages on this matter said: "And if he had died, he should bring ten Jews and to stand by his grave and say: I have sinned against the L-ord, the G-d of Israel, and against this man, whom I have hurt." (Yoma 87a).
וְאֵין הַתְּשׁוּבָה נִמְנַעַת עַל הַחוֹטֵא אֶלָּא מִצַּד מַצְפּוּנוֹ וְתַרְמִית לִבּוֹ אֲבָל אִם הוּא רוֹצֶה לְהִתְקָרֵב אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים לֹא יִסָּגֵר שַׁעַר הַתְּשׁוּבָה בְּפָנָיו וְלֹא יִמְנָעֵהוּ מֵהַמַּגִּיעַ אֵלָיו מוֹנֵעַ אַךְ הוּא פּוֹתֵחַ לוֹ שַׁעַר הַיְשָׁרָה וּמוֹרֶה אוֹתוֹ הַדֶּרֶךְ הַטּוֹבָה בְּחַסְדּוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ כמ״ש (תהלים כה) טוֹב וְיָשָׁר ה׳ עַל כֵּן יוֹרֶה חַטָּאִים בַּדָּרֶךְ וְאָמַר (דברים ד) וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם מִשָּׁם אֶת ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ וּמָצָאתָ וְגוֹ׳ וּכְתִיב (שם ל) כִּי קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד וְאָמַר (תהלים קמה) קָרוֹב ה׳ לְכָל קֹרְאָיו וְגוֹ׳.
Repentance is not withheld from a sinner, rather the obstruction comes from his own wickedness and deceitful heart. But if he sincerely wants to draw near to G-d, the gate of repentance will not be closed before him, and no obstacle will prevent him from reaching it. Rather, G-d will open for him the gate of the just, and teach him the good path in His mercy and in His goodness, as written "Good and upright is the L-ord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way" (Tehilim 25:8), and "from there you will seek the L-ord your G-d, and you will find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Devarim 4:29), and "Rather,[this] thing (repentance) is very close to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it"(Devarim 30:14), and "The L-ord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth" (Tehilim 145:18).
וּכְבָר בֵּאַרְתִּי לְךָ אָחִי מֵחוֹבוֹת הַתְּשׁוּבָה וְגִלִּיתִי לְךָ מֵאָפְנֵי הַחֲזָרָה מָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ מַעֲנֶה עָלֶיךָ וְנִפְסְקוּ בּוֹ אֲמַתְלְאוֹתֶיךָ וּמָה תֹּאמַר מָחָר לֶאֱלֹהֶיךָ סָכַלְתִּי וְלֹא סָכַלְתָּ אוֹ תֹּאמַר עָשִׂיתִי מָה שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ.
FINAL WORDS
I have already clarified for you, my brother, some of the obligations of repentance, and I revealed to you some of the ways to return (to G-d). Now, there are grounds for a claim against you, and your escapes are gone. What will you answer tomorrow to G-d? - "I was ignorant (that I needed to repent)" - but you were not ignorant! Or maybe you will answer: "I did what I did, but I didn't know (how to repent)".
וּמָה תִּהְיֶה תְּשׁוּבַת הַשְּׁאֵלָה הַזֹּאת וּמִבְּלִי סָפֵק נִהְיֶה נִשְׁאָלִים. הָכֵן הַתְּשׁוּבָה בְּעוֹד שֶׁמַּאֲרִיכִין לְךָ. וְדַע אָחִי כִּי הַתְּשׁוּבָה עַל זֶה אֵינֶנָּה יוֹצֵאת כִּי אִם מִמַּעֲשֵׂינוּ לֹא מִדְּבָרֵינוּ וַחֲשֹׁב עִם נַפְשְׁךָ תַּגִּיעַ לִרְצוֹן בּוֹרַאֲךָ כִּי לֹא יַשִּׂיג הַטּוֹב הַיּוֹם אֶלָּא הַמְּמַהֵר אֵלָיו וּפְרִי הַקִּצּוּר הַחֲרָטָה.
What will be your answer to this question? And there's no doubt that we will be asked. Prepare the repentance while (G-d) is still pushing off (your punishment, to give you an opportunity to repent). Know my brother that the answer to this question will not be acceptable with our words but only with our deeds. Think to yourself, make a personal accounting of how you can obtain favor from your Creator, know that only one who hastens will reach the good, and the fruit of not doing enough will be regret.
הָקִיצָה אָחִי מִשְּׁנַת פְּתַיּוּתְךָ וַחֲמֹל עַל נַפְשְׁךָ שֶׁהִיא הַנִּכְבֶּדֶת שֶׁבְּפִקְדוֹנוֹת הַבּוֹרֵא אֶצְלְךָ וְכַמָּה וְעַד מָתַי הָעִכּוּב הַזֶּה וּכְבָר כִּלִּיתָ יָמֶיךָ בִּרְצוֹן תַּאֲוָתְךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה הָעֶבֶד הָרָע הֲלֹא תָּשׁוּב לְכַלּוֹת שְׁאָר יָמֶיךָ בִּרְצוֹן בּוֹרַאֲךָ וּכְבָר יָדַעְתָּ כִּי יְמֵי הָאָדָם קְצָרִים וְהַשְּׁאָר בְּלִי סָפֵק יוֹתֵר קָצָר כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַזַ״ל הַיּוֹם קָצָר וְהַמְּלָאכָה מְרֻבָּה.
Wake up my brother from the slumber of your simplemindedness. Have mercy on your soul, which is the most important deposit of all the deposits the Creator entrusted by you. How long, and how much longer will you procrastinate in this? You have already consumed your days gratifying your selfish desires, like a base slave, now return and finish your remaining days following the desire of your Creator. You already know that the lifetime of a man is brief, and what remains of your life is still briefer, as our sages said: "the day is short and the workload is great" (Avos 2:15).
הָיְתָה לְךָ אָחִי רוּחַ יְקָרָה וְנִכְבֶּדֶת כִּבַּדְתָּ בָּהּ העוה״ז הַנִּבְזֶה וְהַכָּלֶה וְהִנַּחְתָּ אַחֲרִיתְךָ הַנִּשְׁאֶרֶת לְךָ הֲלֹא תְּנַשֵּׂא רוּחֲךָ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם הַנִּכְבָּד וְהַמָּעוֹן הָרָם מָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר לֹא תִּשְׁפַּלְנָה הָרוּחוֹת הָעוֹלוֹת אֵלָיו לָעַד וּתְמַהֵר בְּעוֹד שַׁעַר הַתְּשׁוּבָה פָּתוּחַ וְהַקַּבָּלָה וְהַכַּפָּרָה מְצוּיָה כמ״ש (ישעיהו נ״ה:ו׳) דִּרְשׁוּ ה׳ בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ קְרָאֻהוּ בִּהְיוֹתוֹ קָרוֹב.
You have, my brother, a precious and exalted spirit. With it, you honored this fleeting and lowly world and you abandoned your end that you will be left with. Should you not lift up your spirit to think of that exalted place, the high abode, the place where the spirits which ascend to there will not be lowered from their exaltedness forever. Hurry, while the gates of repentance are open and the acceptance and atonement are still available, as written "Seek the L-ord while He is found, call to Him while He is still near" (Yeshaya 55:6).
מֵהַר אָחִי וּמַהֵר קֹדֶם בֹּא פַּחְדְּךָ כִּי אֵינְךָ בָּטוּחַ בְּחַיֵּי יוֹם אֶחָד וְעַיֵּן לְנַפְשְׁךָ עִיּוּן שֶׁיֵּאוֹת לְכָמוֹךָ וְיִהְיֶה שָׁקוּל עִם שִׂכְלְךָ.
Hurry my brother, hurry before the horror you dread comes, because you are not assured that you will live for even one more day. Examine yourself with a careful and weighed examination according to what is proper and possible for one like you.
וּמִי שֶׁרוֹצֶה לְהַגִּיעַ לִרְצוֹן בּוֹרְאוֹ יִכָּנֵס מִן הַפֶּתַח הַצַּר שֶׁיִּכָּנְסוּ מִמֶּנּוּ הַחֲסִידִים הַסּוֹבְלִים וְכֻלָּנוּ נְקַוֶּה הַטּוֹב וְלֹא יַגִּיעוּהוּ אֶלָּא הַמְמַהֲרִים אֵלָיו הָרָצִים עָדָיו כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲזַ״ל הֱוֵי עַז כַּנָּמֵר וְקַל כַּנֶּשֶׁר רָץ כַּצְּבִי וְגִבּוֹר כָּאֲרִי לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן אָבִיךָ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם. וְאָמַר דָּוִד (תהלים קיט) חַשְׁתִּי וְלֹא הִתְמַהְמָהְתִּי.
And he who wants to obtain the favor of his Creator will enter through the narrow opening through which the pious who bear in this world (in the service of G-d). All of us hope for the good. But only those who hasten towards it will reach it, who run towards it, as our sages said: "Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer and mighty as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven" (Avos 5:23), and David said: "I hastened and delayed not to keep Your commandments" (Tehilim 119:60).
חֲשֹׁב עִם נַפְשְׁךָ וּבוֹשׁ מִבּוֹרַאֲךָ שֶׁתִּתְנַהֵג עִמּוֹ בְּמִדָּה שֶׁאֵינְךָ רוֹצֶה לְנַפְשְׁךָ לְהִתְנַהֵג בָּהּ עִם נִבְרָא כָּמוֹךָ כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כִּי כְּשֶׁתַּקְצִיף בַּעַל מַעֲלָה קְטַנָּה מֵאַנְשֵׁי הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל נַפְשְׁךָ אֵינְךָ מִתְעַכֵּב מֵהִכָּנַע לוֹ וְהִתְחַנֵּן אֵלָיו לִמְחֹל לְךָ וּלְהַבְטִיחֲךָ מֵעָנְשׁוֹ עִם חֻלְשָׁתוֹ בָּזֶה כ״ש אִם יִקְצֹף עָלֶיךָ הַשַּׂר וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן הַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁתְּמַהֵר לְבַקֵּשׁ מְחִילָתוֹ וְתָחִישׁ בִּתְשׁוּבָה אֵלָיו וּלְרַצּוֹתוֹ מִיִּרְאָתְךָ מְהִירוּת עָנְשׁוֹ, וּכְבָר יָדַעְתָּ חֻלְשָׁתוֹ מֵעֲשׂוֹת דָּבָר בִּלְתִּי גְּזֵרַת הַבּוֹרֵא כמ״ש הֶחָכָם (משלי כא) פַּלְגֵי מַיִם לֶב מֶלֶךְ בְּיַד ה׳ עַל כָּל אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ יַטֶּנּוּ עִם כְּלוֹת מַלְכוּתוֹ וּנְתִישַׁת מֶמְשַׁלְתּוֹ וְהִתְחַלְּקוּת לִבּוֹ וְטִרְדָּתוֹ בִּקְצָת הַדְּבָרִים מִקְצָתָם וַעֲבוֹר הַשִּׁכְחָה וְהַהַעֲלָמָה עָלָיו וְרֹב מָה שֶׁנֶּעֱלַם מִמֶּנּוּ מִן הַדְּבָרִים הַנִּרְאִים כ״ש הַנִּסְתָּרִים. וְעִם יְדִיעָתְךָ כָּל זֶה אֵינְךָ מִתְאַחֵר לְבַקֵּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ לִמְחֹל עֲוֹנְךָ וּלְמַהֵר אֶל מָה שֶׁיִּרְצֵהוּ וִיקַבְּלֵהוּ מִמְּךָ וְאֵיךְ לֹא נֵבוֹשׁ אָחִי מִבּוֹרְאֵנוּ הַמַּשְׁקִיף עַל הַנִּסְתָּר וְעַל הַנִּגְלֶה מִמַּעֲשֵׂינוּ וּמַחְשְׁבוֹתֵינוּ אֲשֶׁר לֹא תַּעֲבֹר עָלָיו שִׁכְחָה וְלֹא הַעֲלָמָה וְלֹא יַטְרִידֵהוּ דָּבָר מִדָּבָר וְאֵין מָנוֹס מִדִּינוֹ וְאֵין קֵץ לְמַלְכוּתוֹ שֶׁנִּטֶּה מֵעָלָיו וְנִתְאַחֵר מֵהִכָּנַע לוֹ וּמִשּׁוּב אֵלָיו וְאֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִים עֵת קִצֵּנוּ וְתַכְלִית מִדַּת יָמֵינוּ,
Take counsel with your soul. Be ashamed to act with your Creator in a way that you would be ashamed to act with even a human being like yourself. For, you know that if you angered even a low ranking official of the king, you would not delay to humble yourself to him, and to plea to him to forgive you, so that he will not punish you, even though he has little power in this. All the more so if a high ranking officer were to be angry at you, and even more so if it was the king himself, that you would hasten to seek forgiveness from him, show remorse to him, and try to appease him out of your fear of being swiftly punished.
Yet you already know (from the gate of trust of this book), his helplessness of being able to do anything without the decree of the Creator, as the wise man said: "A king's heart is like rivulets of water in the L-ord's hand; wherever He wishes, He turns it" (Mishlei 21:1). All this despite that (he may never get around to punishing you due to) his reign ending, his kingdom being overthrown, his mind confused or distracted by his numerous matters, forgetting or overlooking you. This happens for revealed things, all the more so for hidden things. Despite your knowledge of all of this, you would not delay to seek from him a pardon to your transgression. You would rush to do that which will appease him and be acceptable to him.
My brother, how then can we not be ashamed of our Creator, who observes what is revealed as well as what is concealed of all our deeds and thoughts. He is not subject to forgetting nor overlooking anything. No matter can distract Him from another matter. None can escape from His justice, and there is no end to His reign? How can we turn away from Him, or delay humbling ourselves before Him and repenting to Him, while we don't know our final end nor the number of days we have been allotted.
וְאִלּוּ הָיָה אָדָם מַזְהִיר אַנְשֵׁי קִרְיָה אוֹ אַנְשֵׁי מְדִינָה וְיֹאמַר בְּנֵי אָדָם הֱיוּ נְכוֹנִים לִנְסֹעַ לעוה״ב כִּי אִישׁ אֶחָד יִפָּקֵד מִכֶּם בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה וְאֵינֶנִּי מוֹדִיעַ אוֹתוֹ (ס״א ואינני יודע אותו). הַאֵין מִן הַדִּין עַל כָּל אֶחָד מֵהֶם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נָכוֹן לָמוּת מִיִּרְאָה שֶׁמָּא יִהְיֶה הוּא הָאִישׁ הַהוּא? וְאֵיךְ לֹא נִהְיֶה כֻּלָּנוּ נְכוֹנִים לוֹ!
If a man were to visit a village or province and announce to the people saying: "People, be prepared to go on to the next world, for one of you will pass away this month, but I will not reveal who it is". Is it not proper for each person to prepare for death, for fear he is that man?
וַאֲנַחְנוּ רוֹאִים כִּי הַמָּוֶת בְּכָל חֹדֶשׁ מְכַלֶּה מִסְפָּר רַב מִן הַחַיִּים הֲלֹא מִן הַדִּין עָלֵינוּ שֶׁנִּירָא עַל נַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ בְּכָל חֹדֶשׁ וְנַחְשֹׁב עַל עִנְיָנֵנוּ וְצֵידָתֵנוּ וּבֵית מוֹעֲדֵנוּ קֹדֶם עֵת הַצֹּרֶךְ אֲלֵיהֶם אֲפִלּוּ יוֹם אֶחָד כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ זַ״ל שׁוּב יוֹם אֶחָד לִפְנֵי מִיתָתְךָ וְנֶאֱמַר (קהלת ט׳:ח׳) בְּכָל עֵת יִהְיוּ בְגָדֶיךָ לְבָנִים.
And we can see that every month, death consumes a large number of the living. Surely it is proper for us to fear for our souls every month, at least for one day, and to reflect on our matter and provisions and final destination before we need them, as our sages said: "repent one day before your death" (Avos 2:10), and "at all times let your garments be white" (Koheles 9:8, i.e. that you are clean of sin).
בְּחֹן בְּיִתְרוֹן שִׂכְלְךָ וְהַכָּרָתְךָ בֵּרוּר זֶה בְּמָה שֶׁאַתָּה רוֹאֶה בְּעֵינֶיךָ בְּבֵרוּר מָה שֶׁיַּגִּיד לְךָ זוּלָתְךָ.
With your superior intellect and recognition examine what you see with your own eyes, and it will be clearer to you than if you had only heard it from someone else.
וְאַל תִּדְחֶה שִׂכְלְךָ וּבִינָתְךָ כִּי כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר כִּי לַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ עַל עֲבָדָיו טוֹבוֹת אִם יְקַבְּלוּ אוֹתָם יָנוּחוּ בָּם (ס״א ירווחו בם) וְאִם יְשִׁיבוּם עָלָיו יִהְיוּ לִטְעָנוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם ואח״כ יָשׁוּבוּ לִנְקָמָה.
Do not push away that which your intellect and understanding [obligate you to do - PL], since it was already said: the Creator bestows many good things to His servants (wisdom, etc), if they accept them (use them to serve Him), they will gain. But if they refuse them (use them to rebel against Him), they will become grounds for a claim against them, and afterwards a reason to exact retribution against them.
וְהַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ הֵטִיב לְךָ בְּחָכְמָה וּבִתְבוּנָה וּבְדַעַת שָׂם לְךָ בָּהֶם יִתְרוֹן עַל זוּלָתְךָ הִזָּהֵר וְהִזָּהֵר שֶׁלֹּא יָשׁוּבוּ לְטַעֲנָה עָלֶיךָ.
The Creator did good to you. He bestowed you with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. He gave you of them more than another. Be careful, and be careful - that they don't turn to become grounds for a claim against you.
וּכְבָר הֵעִיר אוֹתְךָ אֶל הַדֶּרֶךְ הַיְּשָׁרָה וְהוֹרָה אוֹתְךָ נְתִיב טוֹבָתְךָ וּלְחֶמְלָה עָלֶיךָ וּלְנַהֶלְךָ לְאַט וְלֹא רָצָה לְךָ שֶׁתַּתְמִיד עַל פְּתַיּוּתְךָ וְתַחֲזִיק בְּמֶרְיְךָ לָלֶכֶת עִמְּךָ עַל דֶּרֶךְ הַחֶסֶד אֲשֶׁר יֵאוֹת לוֹ וּבְחֶמְלָתוֹ וְרַחֲמָיו עַל בְּרוּאָיו כמ״ש (תהלים כה) טוֹב וְיָשָׁר ה׳ עַל כֵּן יוֹרֶה חַטָּאִים בַּדָּרֶךְ וּכְבָר קָרָא אוֹתְךָ לְאַט וּבְלָשׁוֹן רַכָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ בְּתוֹכַחַת וְהַכְלָמָה וְאַחַר כָּךְ הִזְהִיר אוֹתְךָ בְּעָנְשׁוֹ כְּדֵי שֶׁתָּשׁוּב אֵלָיו וּתְמַהֵר לַחֲזֹר עָדָיו.
He has already stirred you to the straight way (through this book), and taught you the path leading to your good, out of mercy for you, and to guide you gently. He didn't want you to continue in your foolishness, and continue in your rebelliousness, He conducts with you in the way of kindness as befitting Him, and out of pity and mercy for His creations, as written "Good and upright is the L-ord; therefore does He instruct sinners in the way" (Tehilim 25:8). He has already called you gently and with a soft language, and afterwards with rebukes and embarrassments, and finally threatened you with His punishment, in order that you repent to Him, and speedily return to His service.
מַהֵר אָחִי וּמַהֵר לְהַאֲזִין אֵלָיו וְלִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקֹלוֹ וּלְדָבְקָה בוֹ וּבְחֹר לְנַפְשְׁךָ מָה שֶׁבָּחַר לָהּ אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְרָצָה לָהּ מָה שֶׁרָצָה מִמֶּנָּה בּוֹרַאֲךָ, וְאַל תְּבִיאֲךָ הָעַצְלָה לְהָקֵל בָּהּ כִּי אִם תֵּקַל נַפְשְׁךָ בְּעֵינֶיךָ אֵיזֶה דָּבָר יִהְיֶה נִכְבָּד אֶצְלְךָ.
Hurry my brother, and hurry to lend ear to Him. Listen to His voice, and cling to Him. Choose for your soul what your G-d has chosen for it. Desire for it what your Creator desired for it. Do not allow laziness to make you lax in it, because if your own soul is light in your eyes, then what else will be important by you?
וְהִזָּהֵר פֶּן יַשִּׁיאֲךָ הִרְהוּר לִבְּךָ וְיֹאמַר לְךָ עַתָּה אַחֲרֵי אֹרֶךְ הִתְעַלְּמוּתִי וַחֲלִיפוֹת רֹב יָמַי אָשׁוּב אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים וַאֲבַקֵּשׁ מְחִילָתוֹ.
Be careful lest the thoughts of your mind (evil inclination) entice you saying: "Now?! After my long protracted neglect of the service of G-d, and the passing of most of my days, how can I now return to G-d and seek His forgiveness?!"
וְרָאוּי שֶׁתָּשִׁיב עָלָיו בְּמָה שֶׁאָמַר הַנָּבִיא בָּעִנְיָן הַזֶּה (יחזקאל יח) וּבְשׁוּב רָשָׁע מֵרִשְׁעָתוֹ וּבְשׁוּב צַדִּיק מִצִּדְקָתוֹ עַד סוֹף הָעִנְיָן.
You should reply to him (the evil inclination) as the prophet spoke of this matter: "And when the righteous turns from his righteousness and does wrong.... All his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered; in his treachery that he has perpetrated and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.... And when a wicked man repents of his wickedness that he has done, and does justice and righteousness, he shall save his soul alive; Because he considered, and turned away from all his transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die." (Yechezkel 18:24-27), until the end of the matter.
וּכְבָר הִמְשִׁילוּ זֶה הַקַּדְמוֹנִים לְאָדָם שֶׁהָיוּ בְּיָדוֹ דַּרְכְּמוֹנֵי כֶּסֶף וְהָיָה צָרִיךְ לַעֲבֹר בְּנָהָר גָּדוֹל וְכַאֲשֶׁר עָמַד עַל שְׂפַת הַנָּהָר הִשְׁלִיךְ הַדַּרְכְּמוֹנִים הָהֵם בַּנָּהָר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקִּוָּה לְהַפְסִיק הַנָּהָר בָּהֶם וְהִשְׁלִיכָם כֻּלָּם חוּץ מֵאֶחָד שֶׁנִּשְׁאַר בְּיָדוֹ וְלֹא נִפְסְקוּ הַמַּיִם בַּעֲבוּרָם וְכַאֲשֶׁר רָאָה כֵּן אָמַר לְמַלָּח אֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה בַּנָּהָר קַח זֶה הַדַּרְכְּמוֹן אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדִי וְהַעֲבִירֵנִי בִּסְפִינָתְךָ בַּנָּהָר וְעָשָׂה הַמַּלָּח כֵּן וְהִגִּיעוֹ לְחֶפְצוֹ בַּדַּרְכְּמוֹן הַהוּא אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁאַר בְּיָדוֹ וְהִשִּׂיג בּוֹ מָה שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ אֵלָיו בְּכָל הַדַּרְכְּמוֹנִים שֶׁאִבֵּד בַּנָּהָר וּכְאִלּוּ לֹא אִבֵּד מְאוּמָה.
The early ones already compared this to a man who had in his possession silver coins, and he needed to cross a big river, when he reached the river bank, he threw all the coins in the river hoping to slow its flow and walk over the coins, and he threw all of them except for one that remained in his hand, and the current was not stopped by the coins, when he saw this, he said to one of the sailors who happened to pass on the river: "take this coin which is in my hand, and take me through the river with your boat". The sailor did this, and the man reached his desire with the remaining coin that was in his hand. He accomplished more with that coin than all the coins he lost in the river, and it was as if he didn't lose anything.
וְכֵן בַּעַל הַתְּשׁוּבָה אֲשֶׁר כִּלָּה רֹב יָמָיו בְּזוּלַת עֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא כְּשֶׁיַּחְזֹר בִּתְשׁוּבָה בְּאַחֲרִית יָמָיו יִמְחֹל לוֹ הַבּוֹרֵא מָה שֶׁקָּדַם מֵרֹעַ מַעֲשָׂיו כָּל יָמָיו כמ״ש (שם) כָּל פְּשָׁעָיו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לֹא יִזָּכְרוּ לוֹ וְאָמַר (שם לג) כָּל חַטֹּאתָיו אֲשֶׁר חָטָא לֹא תִזָּכַרְנָה לוֹ.
Likewise, a baal teshuva (penitent) who wasted most of his life in things other than the service of G-d, if he repents at the end of his days, the Creator will forgive him for all of what happened of the bad deeds of all of his previous days, as written: "None of his transgressions that he had committed shall be remembered against him; [for his righteousness that he had done he shall live]" (Yechezkel 18:22), and "None of his sins that he had committed shall be remembered against him; [he performed justice and righteousness; he shall surely live]"(Yechezkel 33:16).
וְאַל יִכְבַּד עָלֶיךָ אָחִי הֶעָרָתִי אוֹתְךָ לִשְׁמִירַת עַצְמְךָ אֲשֶׁר אָרְכוּ יְמֵי הִתְעַלְּמוּתְךָ (ס״א התעלמותי) מִמֶּנָּה כִּי לֹא יִחַדְתִּיךָ בָּהּ מִבַּלְעֲדֵי נַפְשִׁי וְהִכָּנַע לָאֱמֶת וְאַל תִּבְרַח מִמֶּנָּה וְהוֹדֵה לֵאלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר הֵעִיר אוֹתְךָ לְמָה שֶׁלֹּא יָדַעְתָּ וְאַל תִּקַּח אֹרֶךְ הִתְעַלְּמוּת זוּלָתְךָ הַמֵּעִיר לְךָ לְטַעֲנָה לְךָ וְלַאֲמַתְלָא כִּי זֶה מִתַּרְמִית הַיֵּצֶר וּמְצוֹדָיו לַאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר הַכָּרָתָם חֲלוּשָׁה.
Let it not be too wearying, my brother, my exhorting you on guarding yourself, which you have neglected for so long to do. Because I am speaking not only to you but to myself also. Submit to the truth. Do not run away from it. Thank the Al-mighty who aroused you on that which you did not know, and let not the long hiding of other people be an excuse for you, because this is one of the distortions and snare of the yetzer (evil inclination) for people who are of weak understanding.
הָאֱלֹהִים יְשִׂימֵנוּ מִן הַמְמַהֲרִים אֵלָיו וְהַשָּׁבִים עָדָיו בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם בְּרַחֲמָיו אָמֵן:
נִשְׁלַם שַׁעַר הַשְּׁבִיעִי. בְּעֶזְרַת הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ:
May the Al-mighty place us among those who hurry towards him, who repent to Him wholeheartedly, in His mercy. Amen.