Chapter 33, Section 4 (פֶּרֶק ל״ג אוֹת ד׳)

4. In the first year that he is imprisoned (ד. בַּשָּׁנָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁהוּא נֶחְבָּשׁ), they proclaim concerning him in all the cities of Israel (הָיוּ מַכְרִיזִין עָלָיו בְּכָל עִיָּרוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל), and mighty ones of Torah and mighty ones of sustenance gather around him (וּמִתְכַּנְּסִין עָלָיו גִּבּוֹרֵי תּוֹרָה וּגִבּוֹרֵי פַרְנָסָה), and they bind upon him conspiracies (וּקוֹשְׁרִין עָלָיו קַנּוֹנְטִיָּא), and they damage his appearance (וּמְחַבְּלִין עָלָיו אֶת מַרְאֵהוּ), as it is said: “So marred was his appearance beyond man’s, and his form beyond the sons of men” (שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: כֵּן מִשְׁחַת מֵאִישׁ מַרְאֵהוּ) (Yeshayahu 52:14). And the many are not with him, except the sleepers of the dust, as it is said: “And many of those who sleep in the dust shall awaken” (וְאֵין רַבִּים עָלָיו אֶלָּא יְשֵׁנֵי עָפָר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְרַבִּים מִיְּשֵׁנֵי עֲפַר יָקִיצוּ) (Daniel 12:2). And the dead of the world would say one to another (וְהָיוּ מֵתֵי עוֹלָם אוֹמְרִים זֶה לָזֶה): “Perhaps our hope has passed and is annulled?” (שֶׁמָּא עָבַר סִבְרֵנוּ וְבָטֵל). A Heavenly voice would go forth and say (יוֹצֵאת בַּת קוֹל וְאוֹמֶרֶת): “Do not fear-through his merit you stand” (אַל תִּירְאוּ וּבִזְכוּתוֹ אַתֶּם עוֹמְדִים).