Daf 159a (דַּף קנ״ט ע״א)

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), Kudsha Berikh Hu made the lower world (עֲבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עַלְמָא תַּתָּאָה) in the likeness of the supernal world (כְּגַוְונָא דְּעַלְמָא עִלָּאָה), and all those orders arranged by David and Shlomo his son (וְכָל אִינוּן סִדְּרִין דְּסִדְּרוּ דָּוִד וּשְׁלֹמֹה בְּרֵיהּ), and all those true prophets (וְכָל אִינוּן נְבִיאֵי קְשׁוֹט), all of them (כֻּלְּהוּ), arranged according to the supernal pattern (סִדְּרוּ כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָא).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי): just as there are watches upon the earth (כְּגַוְונָא דְּאִיכָּא מִשְׁמָרוֹת בְּאַרְעָא), so too in the firmament (הָכִי נָמֵי בִּרְקִיעָא), who sing to their Master (דִּמְזַמְּרֵי לְמָרַיְיהוּ), and say song continually (וְאָמְרֵי שִׁירָתָא תָּדִיר). And all of them stand—these opposite those (וְכֻּלְּהוּ קָיְימִין אִלֵּין לָקֳבֵל אִלֵּין), and all is in the order of songs and praises (וְכֹּלָּא בְּסִדְּרָן דְּשִׁירִין וּתְשׁוּבְחָן), and this was already established by the Friends (וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא).

“Maidens of Song” — what are maidens of song? (עֲלָמוֹת שִׁיר, מַאי עֲלָמוֹת שִׁיר). Rather, as you say (אֶלָּא כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר): “Sixty are they, queens, and eighty concubines, and maidens without number” (Song of Songs 6) ("שִׁשִּׁים הֵמָּה מְלָכוֹת וּשְׁמוֹנִים פִּלַגְשִׁים וַעֲלָמוֹת אֵין מִסְפָּר"). What is: “And maidens without number”? (מַאי: וַעֲלָמוֹת אֵין מִסְפָּר). As it is said (Job 25): “Is there any number to His troops?” (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר הֲיֵשׁ מִסְפָּר לִגְדוּדָיו). And since they are without calculation (וּבְגִין דְּלֵית לוֹן חוּשְׁבְּנָא), it is written: “And maidens without number” (כְּתִיב: וַעֲלָמוֹת אֵין מִסְפָּר). And all of them in rows upon rows (וְכֻלְּהוּ שׁוּרִין שׁוּרִין), turning in orders (מְסַחֲרָן סְדָרִין), these opposite those (אִלֵּין לָקֳבֵיל אִלֵּין), to sing and to praise their Master (לְזַמְּרָא וּלְשַׁבָּחָא לְמָרֵיהוֹן), and these are the maidens of song (וְאִלֵּין אִינוּן עֲלָמוֹת שִׁיר). And because there are maidens who do not sing like these (וּבְגִין דְּאִית עֲלָמוֹת דְּלָא מְזַמְּרִין כְּאִלֵּין), these are called maidens of song (אִלֵּין אִקְרוּן עֲלָמוֹת שִׁיר). Three orders spread to each direction of the four directions of the world (תְּלַת סִדְּרִין מִתְפָּרְשָׁן לְכָל סְטַר לְד׳ סִטְרֵי עַלְמָא), and in every single order which is to each direction (וּבְכָל סִדְרָא וְסִדְרָא דְּאִיהִי לְכָל סְטַר), there are three other orders (תְּלַת סִדְּרִין אָחֳרָנִין).

The first order, which is to the eastern side, consists of three orders (סִדְרָא קַדְמָאָה דְּלִסְטַר מִזְרָח, תְּלַת סִדְרִין אִינוּן). And these are nine orders (וְאִינוּן תִּשְׁעָה סִדְרִין), because each one of those three orders has three orders (בְּגִין דְּכָל סִדְרָא מֵאִינוּן תְּלַת, אִית לֵיהּ תְּלַת סִדְרִין), and it is found that they are nine (וְאִשְׁתַּכָּחוּ דְּאִינוּן תִּשְׁעָה), and many thousands and myriads beneath them (וְכַמָּה אֶלֶף וְרִבְבָן תַּחוֹתַיְיהוּ). These nine orders (הַנֵּי סִדְּרִין תִּשְׁעָה), all are directed through inscribed letters (כּוּלְּהוּ מִתְנַהֲגֵי בְּאַתְוָון רְשִׁימָן), and every order is fixed upon those inscribed letters (וְכָל סִדְרָא אִסְתְּכֵי לְאִינוּן אַתְוָון רְשִׁימָן), Some say: and this was established, and likewise each and every order, and all of them are borne by inscribed letters, and these are higher than those, and stand one above the other (ס״א: וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ וְכֵן לְכָל סִדְרָא וְסִדְרָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ נָטְלֵי בְּאַתְוָון רְשִׁימִין, וְאֵלִין עִלָּאִין מֵאֵלִין וְקַיְּימָן אֵלִין עַל אֵלִין). And all of them are joined together (וּמִתְחַבְּרָן כֻּלְּהוּ), and they declare song (וְאָמְרֵי שִׁירָתָא). And when those letters fly through the airy breath (וְכַד אִינוּן אַתְוָון פָּרְחֵי גּוֹ אֲוִירָא דְּרוּחָא), that one who is appointed over all (הַהוּא דִּמְמַנָּא עַל כֹּלָּא), then they are elevated (כְּדֵין אִינוּן נָטְלֵי), and the song is sweetened (וְשִׁירָתָא אִתְבַּסַּם), and one letter is struck from below (וְחַד אָת אִתְבַּטַּשׁ מִתַּתָּא). And that letter ascends and descends (וְהַהוּא אָת סָלְקָא וְנָחֲתָא), and two letters fly upon it (וּתְרֵין אַתְוָון פָּרְחֵי עֲלַיְיהוּ), and this letter from below (וְהַאי אָת מִתַּתָּא), raises up the order from below to above (סָלְקָא סִדְרָא מִתַּתָּא לְעֵילָא), and joins with them (וְאִתְחַבַּר בְּהוּ), and becomes three letters (וְאִתְעֲבִידוּ תְּלַת אַתְוָון), all corresponding to the letters Yod–He–Vav (כֻּלְּהוּ לְפוּם אַתְוָון י״ה״ו), which are three within the shinning mirror (דְּאִינוּן תְּלַת גּוֹ אַסְפַּקְלַרְיָא הַמְאִירָה). From these were spread out three orders (מֵאֵילֵּין אִתְפָּרְשׁוּ תְּלַת סִדְּרִין), and these are two letters (וְאִינוּן תְּרֵין אָתְוָון), and that letter which ascended (וְהַהוּא אָת דְּסָלְקָא), is joined with them (מִתְחַבְּרָא עִמְּהוֹן), and they are three (וְאִינוּן תְּלַת).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), those two supernal letters (אִינוּן תְּרֵין אָתְוָון עִלָּאִין), which ascend in the air (דְּסָלְקִין בַּאֲוִירָא), they are crowned one within the other (אִינוּן כְּלִילָן דָּא בְּדָא), mercy within judgment (רַחֲמֵי בְּדִינָא). And therefore they are two (וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִינוּן תְּרֵין), and they are from the supernal world, in the secret of the masculine (וְאִינוּן מֵעַלְמָא עִלָּאָה בְּרָזָא דִּדְכוּרָא), and this one that ascended and joined with them (וְהַאי דְּסַלְקָא וְאִתְחַבְּרָא עִמְּהוֹן), she is Nukvah (אִיהִי נוּקְבָא), and she is included within both (וְאִתְכְּלִילַת בְּתַרְוַויְיהוּ). Just as Nukvah is included from two sides (כְּגַוְונָא דְּנוּקְבָא אִתְכְּלִילַת בִּתְרֵי סִטְרֵי), from the right and from the left (בִּימִינָא וּבִשְׂמָאלָא), and is joined with them (וְאִתְחַבְּרַת בְּהוּ), so too this letter Nukvah (הָכִי נָמֵי הַאי אָת נוּקְבָא), that is joined with two other letters (דְּאִתְחַבְּרַת בִּתְרֵי אַתְוָון אָחֳרָנִין), and they are from two sides (וְאִינוּן בִּתְרֵין סִטְרִין), these from above (אִלֵּין עִלָּאִין), and this one below (וְדָא לְתַתָּא), and all is one—male and female (וְכֹּלָּא אִיהוּ חַד, דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָא). Except (בַּר) that when the world was created (דְּכַד אִתְבְּרֵי עַלְמָא), those letters were from the supernal world (דְּאִינוּן אַתְוָון מֵעַלְמָא עִלָּאָה נִינְהוּ), and they generated all deeds below (דְּאִינוּן אוֹלִידוּ כָּל עוֹבָדִין לְתַתָּא), exactly in their likeness (כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְהוֹן מַמָּשׁ). And therefore (וּבְגִין כָּךְ), one who knows them and is cautious with them (מַאן דְּיָדַע לוֹן וְאִזְדְּהַר בְּהוּ), loves above and loves below (רָחִים לְעֵילָא וּרָחִים לְתַתָּא).

Rabbi Shim'on said (רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אָמַר): These letters, all of them (אִלֵּין אַתְוָון כֻּלְּהוּ), male and female (דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָא), are to be included together (לְאִתְכְּלָלָא כְּחֲדָא), in the secret of supernal waters and lower waters (בְּרָזָא דְּמַיִין עִלָּאִין וּמַיִין תַּתָּאִין), and all is one (וְכֹלָּא חַד), and this is the complete Union (וְדָא אִיהוּ יִחוּדָא שְׁלִים). And because of this (וּבְגִין כָּךְ), one who knows them (מַאן דְּיָדַע לְהוּ), and is careful with them (וְאִזְדְּהַר בְּהוּ), fortunate is his portion (זַכָּאָה אִיהוּ חוּלָקֵיהּ), in this world and in the world to come (בְּהַאי עָלְמָא וּבְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי), for he is the root of complete Union, as is fitting (בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ עִקָּרָא דְּיִחוּדָא שְׁלִים כְּדְקָא יְאוּת). Three and three (תְּלַת תְּלַת), from this side and from that side (מִסִּטְרָא דָא וּמִסִּטְרָא דָא), in one Union in the wholeness of all (בְּיִחוּדָא חָדָא בִּשְׁלִימוּ דְּכֹלָּא). And all are the secret of the supernal order, properly seen (וְכֻלְּהוּ רָזָא דְסִדְּרָא עִלָּאָה כְּדְקָא חָזֵי), in the likeness of above (כְּגַוְונָא דִלְעֵילָא), that that order is three and three in one secret (דְּהַהוּא סִדְּרָא תְּלַת תְּלַת בְּרָזָא חָדָא).

The second order is to the side of the South (סִדְּרָא תִּנְיָינָא דְּלִסְטַר דָּרוֹם), three orders are to that direction (תְּלַת סִדְּרִין אִינוּן לְהַהוּא סִטְרָא). And each and every order (וְכָל סִדְּרָא וְסִדְּרָא), three and three (תְּלַת תְּלַת), and they are nine (וְאִינוּן תִּשְׁעָה), as has been stated (כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר). And the letters are divided thus (וְאַתְוָון אִתְפְּלָגוּ הָכִי), to all directions (לְכָל סִטְרֵי), to unify all as one (לְאִתְחַבְּרָא כֹּלָּא כְּחַד), because there are letters in the secret of Nukvah (בְּגִין דְּאִית אַתְוָון בְּרָזָא דְנוּקְבָא), and letters in the secret of the masculine (וְאַתְוָון בְּרָזָא דִדְכוּרָא), and all were united as one (וְאִתְחַבָּרוּ כֻּלְּהוּ כְּחֲדָא), and became one in the secret of the complete holy Name (וְהֲווּ חַד בְּרָזָא דִשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא שְׁלִים). And appointed over them are orders of three and three (וּלְגַבַּיְיהוּ סִדְּרִין מְמַנָּן תְּלַת תְּלַת), as has been said (כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר). And all comes forth from the order of the Patriarchs above (וְכֹלָּא נַפְקָא מִסִּדְּרָא דְּאֲבָהָן דִּלְעֵילָא), like the order through which the letters of the holy Name Yod–He–Vav were rectified (כְּסִדְּרָא דְּאִתְתַּקְּנָא אַתְוָון דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא י״ה״ו), as has been said (כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר). These orders, all of them (הַנֵּי סִדְּרִין כֻּלְּהוּ), are governed by these known letters (מִתְנַהֲגֵי בְּאִלֵּין אַתְוָון יְדִיעָן), and carried through them (וְנַטְלֵי בְּהוּ), and countless powers and myriads below (וְכַמָּה חֵילִין וְרִבְוָון כֻּלְּהוּ לְתַתָּא), are carried and conducted through this order (דְּנָטְלֵי וְאִתְנַהֲגֵי בְּסִדְּרָא דָא).