Daf 172b (דַּף קע״ב ע״ב)

This star, when it emerges, stretches forth one hand with five fingers (הַאי כֹּכָבָא כַּד נָפִיק פָּשִׁיט חַד יָד בַּחֲמֵשׁ אֶצְבְּעָן), it shines and sparkles in that window (נָהִיר וְנָצִיץ בְּהַהוּא חַלוֹן). The masters of sorcery and enchantments are afraid of this place (מָארֵיהוֹן דְּקוּסְמִין וְחֲרְשִׁין, דַּחֲלֵי מֵהַאי אֲתָר), because at the time that this one rules (בְּגִין דִּבְשַׁעֲתָא דְּהַאי שַׁלְטָא), all sorceries and enchantments become confused (כֻּלְּהוּ קְסָמִין וְחֲרְשִׁין מִתְבַּלְבְּלֵי), and they do not succeed in their hands (וְלָא אַצְלַח בִּידַיְיהוּ). And if you say: Since this firmament is hidden, how do they know it? (וְאִי תֵּימָא, הוֹאִיל וְאִיהוּ הַאי רָקִיעַ טְמִירָא, הֵיךְ יַדְעֵי לֵיהּ), rather, they have an outer sign (אֶלָּא סִימָנָא אִית לוֹן לְבַר), and they know that this star rules (וְיַדְעֵי דְּהָא שַׁלְטָא כֹּכָבָא דָּא), and they are constantly afraid of it (וְדַחֲלֵי תָּדִיר מִנֵּיהּ), and sorceries and enchantments do not succeed in their hands (וְלָא אַצְלַח בִּידֵיהוֹן, אִינּוּן קְסָמִין וְחֲרְשִׁין). And therefore, there are times when human beings succeed through it (וְעַל דָּא אִית זִמְנִין דְּאַצְלָחוּ בֵּיהּ בְּנִי נָשָׁא), and there are times when they do not succeed through it (וְאִית זִמְנִין דְּלָא אַצְלָחוּ בֵּיהּ). And because of this, those masters of sorcery and enchantments have diminished from the world (וּבְגִין דָּא אִינּוּן מָארֵי קוּסְמִין וְחֲרְשִׁין מִתְמַעֲטֵי מֵעָלְמָא), because they do not know the root (בְּגִין דְּלָא יַדְעִין עִקָרָא), when they see that it does not succeed in their hands (כַּד חָמָאן דְּלָא אַצְלַח בִּידַיְיהוּ). And therefore, the ancients did know (וְעַל דָּא אִינּוּן קַדְמָאֵי הֲווֹ יַדְעֵי), and they would look outward at that sign which they knew (וּמִסְתַּכְּלָן לְבַר בְּהַהוּא סִימָנָא, דְּקָא יַדְעֵי).

The second window is called the Window of the Claw (חַלוֹנָא תִּנְיָינָא, אִקְרֵי חַלוֹן טוּפְרָא), because it is in the likeness of a claw (בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ כְּגַוְונָא דְּטוּפְרָא), and through it goes out one star (וּבֵיהּ נָפְקָא כֹּכָבָא חַד), which is called by the sages “Tzifaon” (דְּאִקְרֵי לְחַכִּימִין צִפְעוֹן), for this one rules with strong dominion in judgment (דְּהָא דָּא שַׁלְטָא בְּשׁוּלְטָנָא תַּקִּיף בְּדִינָא), at the head and at the tail (בְּרֵישָׁא וְזַנְבָא), and it has a claw prepared for killing (אִית לֵיהּ כְּצִפְעוֹן כָּמִין לְקָטְלָא). From that window go out six hundred thousand myriad spirits (מֵהַהוּא חַלוֹן, נַפְקֵי שִׁית מֵאָה אֶלֶף רִבּוֹא רוּחִין), who rule over those fingernails of human beings (דְּשַׁלְטִין עַל אִינּוּן טוּפְרִין דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא), when they are cast openly (כַּד אִזְדַּרְקָן בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָא). Through this, sorceries and enchantments are performed (בְּהַאי עַבְדֵי חֲרָשִׁין וּקְסָמִין), all those who know them (כָּל אִינּוּן דְּיַדְעֵי לוֹן). At that time when this star rules (בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא דְּהַאי כֹּכָבָא שַׁלְטָא), all those who cast claws (Some say: if they perform) (כָּל אִינּוּן דְּזַרְקֵי טוּפְרֵי, ס״א: אִי עָבִיד), or perform enchantments with them (אוֹ עַבְדֵי חֲרָשִׁין בְּהוֹן), cause death throughout the world (גָּרִים מוֹתָא לְכָל עָלְמָא), and sorcery succeeds in the hands of those who do them (וְסָלִיק חֲרָשִׁין בִּידַיְיהוּ דְּאִינּוּן דְּעַבְדֵי לוֹן).

The third window is called the Window of the Breastplate (חַלוֹנָא תְּלִיתָאָה, אִקְרֵי חַלוֹן חוֹשְׁנָא), and through it goes out one star (וּבֵיהּ נָפְקָא כֹּכָבָא חֲדָא), and it is called 'The Brightness (Nogha) of the Lamp (Busina) (וְאִקְרֵי נִגְהָ״א דְּבוּסִי״נָא), Some say: of the Luminary (נ״א: דְּבּוּצִינֵי). This is a sparkle that sparkles (הַאי אִיהוּ נְצִיצוּ דְּנָצִיץ), and it stands over every direction (וְקַיְּימָא עַל כָּל רוּחָא), and serenity and deliverance (Some say: and goodness) are in it (וְנַיְיחָא וְשֵׁיזְבוּתָא, נ״א: וְטִיבוּתָא בֵּיהּ). There is no accusation in it at all (לֵית בֵּיהּ קִטְרוּגָא כְּלַל), and when it rules (כַּד אִיהוּ שַׁלְטָא), all serenity and all radiance rule in the world (כָּל נַיְיחָא, וְכָל נְהִירוּ שַׁלְטָא בְּעָלְמָא), peace, satisfaction, and everything rules in the world (שַׁלְוָה, שָׂבְעָא, וְכֹלָּא שַׁלִּיט בְּעָלְמָא).

The fourth window is the window that is called the Goblet (חַלוֹנָא רְבִיעָאָה, אִיהוּ חַלוֹן דְּאִקְרֵי גְּבִיעַ), and through it goes out one star (וּבֵיהּ נָפְקָא כֹּכָבָא חַד), which is called by the sages cluster of henna (Eshkol HaKofer) (דְּאִקְרֵי לְחַכִּימִין אֶשְׁכּוֹל הַכֹּפֶר), because it goes out like a cluster (בְּגִין דְּהָכִי נָפִיק כְּאֶשְׁכּוֹל), sparkling sparkles like grapes in camphire (נָצִיץ נְצִיצִין כַּעֲנָבִין בְּכּוֹפָרָא). Through this, an arousal of mercy is awakened in the world (בְּהַאי אִתְּעָרוּ דְּרַחֲמֵי אִתְּעַר בְּעָלְמָא), distancing and drawing near (מַרְחִיק וּמַקְרִיב), many offspring increase greatly in the world (תוֹלָדִין סַגִּיאִין אַסְגִּיאוּ בְּעָלְמָא). The people of the world are not strict when this one is needed by that one (בְּנֵי עָלְמָא לָא קַפְדֵּי כַּד אִצְטְרִיכוּ דָּא לְדָא), peace and joy are awakened in the world (שְׁלָמָא וְחֶדְוָה אִתְּעַר בְּעָלְמָא).

The fifth window is the window that is called the Well (חַלוֹנָא חֲמִישָׁאָה, אִיהוּ חַלוֹן דְּאִקְרֵי בְּאֵר), because the star that goes out from it (עַל דִּי כֹּכָבָא דְּנָפִיק בֵּיהּ), goes in and goes out, drawing like a bucket (עָאל וְנָפִיק שָׁאִיב כַּדְּלִי), and it is never forgotten for all time (לָא שָׁכִיךְ לְעָלְמִין). With this, sages of the heart cannot stand in the path of truth (בְּהַאי חַכִּימֵי לִבָּא לָא יַכְלִין לְמֵיקָם בְּאֹרַח קְשׁוֹט), because it does not stand in stability (בְּגִין דְּלָא קָאִים בְּקִיּוּמָא), and it is never forgotten (וְלָא שָׁכִיךְ לְעָלְמִין). And because of this, their bones are pressed to look into this place and to judge judgment (וְעַל דָּא אִתְדַּחֲקָן גַּרְמַיְיהוּ, לְעַיְּינָא בְּהַאי אֲתָר, וּלְמֵידַן דִּינָא).

The sixth window is the window that is called Brightness (חַלוֹנָא שְׁתִּיתָאָה, אִיהוּ חַלוֹן דְּאִקְרֵי נֹגְהָא), and through it goes out one star (וְנָפְקָא בֵּיהּ כֹּכָבָא חַד), which is called Gizron (דְּאַקְרִין גִּזְרוֹן), because when this one rules (בְּגִין דְּכַד הַאי שַׁלְטָא), the world stands in judgment (עָלְמָא קָאִים בְּדִינָא), and many decrees and many punishments (וְכַמָּה גִּזְרִין, וּבְכַמָּה עוֹנָשִׁין), and every single day new decrees are renewed upon the world (וּבְכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא מִתְחַדְּשָׁן גִּזְרִין עַל עָלְמָא), and before these are completed, behold—others are renewed (וְעַד לָא יְסַיְּימוּן אִלֵּין, הָא אַחֲרָנִין מִתְחַדְּשִין). But this one does not rule so much in the world (וְהַאי לָא שַׁלְטָא כָּל כַּךְ בְּעָלְמָא).

However, near to the days of the Mashiach (אֲבָל סָמוּךְ לְיוֹמֵי מְשִׁיחָא), this window will rule with this star over the world (יִשְׁלוֹט הַאי חַלוֹנָא, בְּהַאי כֹּכָבָא, עַל עָלְמָא). And because of this, beasts and evil diseases will rule upon the world (וְעַל דָּא יִשְׁלְטוּן חֵיוָן וּמַרְעִין בִּישִׁין עַל עָלְמָא), and new plagues will be renewed one after another (וְיִתְחַדְתּוּן זִינִין בִּישִׁין, דָּא בָּתַר דָּא), and Yisrael will be in distress (וְיִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוֹן בְּעָקוּ). And when they are pressed within the darkness of exile (וְכַד יִתְדַּחֲקוּן גּוֹ חֲשׁוֹכָא דְּגָלוּתָא), then Kudsha Berikh Hu will shine upon them the light of the day (כְּדֵין יַנְהֵר לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא נְהִירוּ דִּימָמָא), and they will receive the kingdom of the holy supernal ones (וִיקַבְּלוּן מַלְכוּתָא קַדִּישֵׁי עֶלְיוֹנִין), and the kingdom from the hand of the nations who worship stars will be nullified (וְיִתְבַּטֵּל מַלְכוּתָא מִידָא דְּעַמִּין עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים), and Yisrael will rule over them (וְיִשְׁלְטוּן עָלַיְיהוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל), and it will be fulfilled: “And the light of the moon shall be…” (Isaiah 30) (וְיִתְקַיֵּים וְהָיָה אוֹר הַלְּבָנָה וְגוֹ').

And then the seventh window will open in all the world (וּכְדֵין חַלוֹנָא שְׁבִיעָאָה יִתְפְּתַח בְּכָל עָלְמָא), and its star is the Star of Ya'akov (וְכֹכָבָא דִּילֵיהּ אִיהוּ כֹּכָבָא דְּיַעֲקֹב), and this is the one that Bil‘am said (וְהַאי אִיהוּ דְּקָאָמַר בִּלְעָם): “A star will step forth from Ya'akov” (Numbers 24) (דָּרַךְ כּוֹכָב מִיָּעֲקֹב). And this star will shine (וְכֹכָבָא דָא יְהֵא נָהִיר), Some say: for forty days and forty nights (נ״א: ד׳ יוֹמִין וְד׳ לֵילִין), forty days (אַרְבְּעִין יוֹמִין), and forty nights (וְאַרְבְּעִין לֵילִין). And when the King Mashiach is revealed (וְכַד יִתְגְּלֵי מַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא), and all the nations of the world gather to the King Mashiach (וְיִתְכַּנְּשׁוּן לְגַבֵּי מַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא כָּל עַמִּין דְּעָלְמָא), then will be fulfilled the verse that is written (כְּדֵין יִתְקַיֵּים קְרָא דִּכְתִּיב): “The root of Yishai which stands as a banner for the peoples, to him the nations shall seek, and his resting place shall be glory” (Isaiah 11) (שֹׁרֶשׁ יִשַׁי אֲשֶׁר עוֹמֵד לְנֵס עַמִּים אֵלָיו גּוֹיִם יִדְרֹשׁוּ וְהָיְתָה מְנוּחָתוֹ כָּבוֹד).

Rabbi Shim‘on opened and said (פָּתַח רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְאָמַר): “And none says, ‘Where is God, my Maker, Who gives songs in the night’” (Job 35) (וְלֹא אָמַר אַיֵּה אֱלוֹהַּ עֹשָׂי נוֹתֵן זְמִירוֹת בַּלַּיְלָה). This verse has been established and it has been said (הַאי קְרָא אוּקְמוּהָ וְאִתְּמַר): But ‘my Maker’—it should say my Maker, not my Makers (אֲבָל עוֹשָׂי, עוֹשִׂי מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ). Who are “my Makers”? (מַאן עוֹשָׂי) Rather, the name of God is a complete name (אֶלָּא שְׁמָא דְּאֱלוֹהַּ שְׁמָא כָּלִיל אִיהוּ), which appears as both judgment and mercy (דְּאִתְחָזֵי הוּא וּבֵי דִּינֵיהּ). This name is complete (דָּא שְׁמָא שְׁלִים אִיהוּ), as a unity of male and female (דְּכָלִיל דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָּא): Alef–Lamed (א״ל) and Vav–Heh (ו״ה), and therefore it says my Makers (וּבְגִינִי כַּךְ עוֹשָׂי).