Daf 228a (דַּף רכ״ח ע״א)

Because of this (וּבְגִין כָּךְ), all those vavin Betzalel made (כָּל אִינּוּן וָוִין עָבֵד בְּצַלְאֵל), to give them for indwelling upon the female (לְמֵיהַב לוֹן לְאַשְׁרָאָה עַל נוּקְבֵי). And they emerge from the secret of Alef (וְנַפְקֵי מֵרָזָא דְּאֶלֶף), which is a complete computation (דְּאִיהוּ חוּשְׁבָּן שְׁלִים). And seven hundred, which is a complete secret (וּשְׁבַע מֵאוֹת, דְּאִיהוּ רָזָא שְׁלִים). And five, likewise (וַחֲמִשָּׁה הָכִי נָמֵי). And seventy, all one secret (וְשִׁבְעִים כֹּלָּא רָזָא חֲדָא). And because of this (וְעַל דָּא), from this secret, and this computation (מֵרָזָא דְּנָא, וְחוּשְׁבָּן דָּא), he made Vavin (עָשָׂה וָוִים). And all of them in the secret of Vav (וְכֻלְּהוּ בְּרָזָא דְּו'), and in the image of Vav they were made (וּבְדִיוּקְנָא דְּו' אִתְעָבִידוּ), and all is in a supernal secret (וְכֹלָּא בְּרָזָא עִלָּאָה), and in the computation they are borne (וּבְחוּשְׁבְּנָא נַטְלֵי). (Exodus 38) And the copper of the elevation offering was seventy talents (וּנְחֹשֶׁת הַתְּנוּפָה שִׁבְעִים כִּכָּר), Rabbi Yehuda said (אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה), all of this descended below (כָּל דָּא נַחְתָּא לְתַתָּא), in the supernal image of the secret of faith (בְּדִיּוּקְנָא עִלָּאָה דְּרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא). In this likeness, the wicked Nebuchadnezzar made that image which he established (כְּגַוְונָא דָּא עֲבַד נְבוּכַדְנֶצַר הָרָשָׁע הַהוּא צַלְמָא דְּאַתְקִין).

Rabbi Yose said (אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי), he did not do so (אִיהוּ לָא עָבִיד הָכִי), but in his dream he saw it so (אֲבָל בְּחֶלְמֵיהּ חָמָא הָכִי), for in his dream he saw (דְּהָא בְּחֶלְמֵיהּ חָמָא), the head of gold (רֵישָׁא דִּי דַּהֲבָא), and afterward silver (וּלְבָתַר כַּסְפָּא), and afterward copper (וּלְבָתַר נְחָשָׁא). (Daniel 2) And if you say: iron and clay—why not so? (וְאִי תֵּימָא פַּרְזְלָא וְחַסְפָּא אֲמַאי לָאו הָכִי). Because they are not worthy to be raised to the sacred (בְּגִין דְּלָאו אִינּוּן כְּדַאי לְאַעֲלָא לְקוּדְשָׁא), and these three others entered (וְאִלֵּין תְּלָתָא אַחֲרָנִין עָאלוּ). And the secret of the Mishkan is in three-by-three within these metals (וְרָזָא דִּילֵיהּ דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא, בִּתְלַת תְּלַת בְּאִלֵּין מַתְּכָן). And in the others, [there are] four; such as blue (Tekhelet), purple (Argaman), scarlet (Tola'at Shani), and fine linen (Shesh) (וּבִשְׁאָרָא אַרְבַּע, כְּגוֹן תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וָשֵׁשׁ). And like the four rows of stones (וּכְגוֹן אַרְבָּעָה טוִּרִי אֶבֶן).

Rabbi Yehuda said (אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה): from them, three (מִנְּהוֹן בִּתְלַת); from them, four (מִנְּהוֹן בְּד'); from them, two (מִנְּהוֹן בִּתְרֵין); from them, one (מִנְּהוֹן בְּחַד). But every order and order is only in threes p1-5(אֲבָל כָּל סִדְרָא וְסִדְרָא לָאו אִיהוּ אֶלָּא בִּתְלַת). Three orders are those that spread to every direction (תְּלַת סִדְרִין אִינּוּן דְּמִתְפָּרְשִׁין לְכָל סְטָר), to the four directions of the world (לְאַרְבַּע סִטְרֵי עָלְמָא). And every order and order that is to each direction, three orders they are (וְכָל סִדְרָא וְסִדְרָא דְּאִיהוּ לְכָל סְטַר, תְּלַת סִדְרִין אִינּוּן). And we have established this (וְאוֹקִימְנָא).

The first order, which is to the eastern direction (סִדְרָא קַדְמָאָה דְּלִסְטַר מִזְרָח), three orders are they, and they are nine orders (תְּלַת סִדְרִין אִינּוּן וְאִינּוּן תִּשְׁעָה סִדְרִין), for each order from those three has three orders (בְּגִין דְּכָל סִדְרָא מֵאִינּוּן ג', אִית לֵיהּ תְּלַת סִדְרִין), and it is found that they are nine (וְאִשְׁתְּכָחוּ דְּאִינּוּן תִּשְׁעָה). And how many thousands and myriads beneath them (וְכַמָּה אֶלֶף וְרִבְבָן תְּחוֹתַיְיהוּ). And these nine orders (וְהָנִי סִדְרִין תִּשְׁעָה), all are conducted by inscribed letters (כֻּלְּהוּ מִתְנַהֲגֵי בְּאַתְוָון רְשִׁימָן). And every order is arranged according to those inscribed letters (וְכָל סִדְרָא אִסְתְּכֵי לְאִינּוּן אַתְוָון רְשִׁימָן), and behold, it has been established (וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ). And so for every order and order (וְכֵן לְכָל סִדְרָא וְסִדְרָא), and all are borne in inscribed letters (וְכֻלְּהוּ נַטְלֵי בְּאַתְוָון רְשִׁימָן). And these are above those (וְאִלֵּין עִלָּאֵי מֵאִלֵּין), and these stand upon those (וְקַיְימָן אִלֵּין עַל אִלֵּין). Some say: and they are all joined and sing song (נ״א: וּמִתְחַבְּרָן כּוּלְּהוּ וְאָמְרֵי שִׁירָתָא). And when those letters soar (וְכַד אִינּוּן אַתְוָון פַּרְחִין), within the air of Ruach (גּוֹ אֲוִירָא דְּרוּחָא), that one who is appointed over all (הַהוּא דִּמְמָנָא עַל כֹּלָּא), then all are borne (כְּדֵין כֻּלְּהוּ נַטְלֵי), Some say: and song is sweetened (נ״א: וְשִׁירְתָא אִתְבַּסֵּם), and behold, it has been established (וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ).

And one letter struck from below (וְחַד אָת בָּטַשׁ מִתַּתָּא), and that letter ascended and descended (וְהַהוּא אָת סַלְּקָא וְנַחְתָּא), and two letters flew upon it (וּתְרֵין אַתְוָון פַּרְחֵי עָלֵהּ). And this letter from below (וְהַאי אָת מִתַּתָּא), ascended from below to above (סַלְּקָא מִתַּתָּא לְעֵילָּא), and joined with them (וְאִתְחַבָּר בְּהוּ), and became three letters (וְאִתְעָבִידוּ תְּלַת אַתְוָון), all according to the letters Yod–He–Vav (כֻּלְּהוּ לְפוּם אַתְוָון י״ד״ו), which are three within a shining mirror (דְּאִינּוּן תְּלַת גּוֹ אַסְפָּקְלַרְיָא דְּנַהֲרָא). From these were separated three orders (מֵאִלֵּין אִתְפְּרָשׁוּ תְּלַת סִדְרִין). And these are two letters (וְאִינּוּן אַתְוָון תְּרֵין), and that letter which ascended joined with them (וְהַהוּא אָת דְּסַלְּקָא מִתְחַבְּרָא עִמְּהוֹן), and they are three (וְאִינּוּן תְּלַת).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי): those two supernal letters that ascend in the air (אִינּוּן תְּרֵין אַתְוָון עִלָּאִין דְּסַלְּקִין בַּאֲוִירָא), are each encompassed one with the other (אִינּוּן כְּלִילָן דָּא בְּדָא), Mercy and Judgement (רַחֲמֵי וְדִינָא), and because of this they are two (וּבְגִין כַּךְ אִינּוּן תְּרֵין), and they are from the world above (וְאִינּוּן מֵעָלְמָא דִּלְעֵילָּא), in the secret of male (בְּרָזָא דִּדְכוּרָא). And this one that ascends and joins with them (וְהַאי דְּסַלְּקָא וּמִתְחַבְּרָא עִמְּהוֹן), she is female (אִיהִי נוּקְבָּא), and she is encompassed by them both (וְאִתְכְּלִילַת בְּתַרְוַויְיהוּ). Just as the female is encompassed in two sides (כְּגַוְונָא דְּנוּקְבָּא אִתְכְּלִילַת בִּתְרֵין סִטְרִין), right and left (בִּימִינָא וּשְׂמָאלָא), and she is joined with them (וְאִתְחֲבָּרַת בְּהוּ), so too this letter, the female (הָכִי נָמֵי, הַאי אָת נוּקְבָּא), is joined with two other letters (וְאִתְחֲבָּרַת בִּתְרֵין אַתְוָון אַחֲרָנִין), and they are two sides (וְאִינּוּן בִּתְרֵין סִטְרִין), these above (אִלֵּין עִלָּאִין), and these below (וְאִלֵּין תַּתָּאִין), and all is one—male and female (וְכֹלָּא אִיהוּ חַד, דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָּא). When the world was created (דְּכַד אִתְבְּרֵי עָלְמָא), those letters were from the supernal world (אִינּוּן אַתְוָון מֵעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה נִינְהוּ), and they generated all deeds below (דְּאִינּוּן אוֹלִידוּ כָּל עוֹבָדִין לְתַתָּא), in their very form (כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְהוֹן מַמָּשׁ). Because of this (בְּגִין כָּךְ), one who knows them and is careful with them (מַאן דְּיָדַע לוֹן, וְאִזְדְּהִר בְּהוּ), loves above and loves below (רָחִים לְעֵילָּא רָחִים לְתַתָּא).

Rabbi Shimon said (רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אָמַר): these letters are all male and female (אִלֵּין אַתְוָון כֻּלְּהוּ דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָּא), to be included as one (לְאִתְכַּלְּלָא כַּחֲדָא), in the secret of upper waters and lower waters (בְּרָזָא דְּמַיִין עִלָּאִין וּמַיִין תַּתָּאִין), and all is one (וְכֹלָּא חַד), and this is perfect union (וְדָא הוּא יִחוּדָא שְׁלִים). And because of this (וְעַל דָּא), one who knows them and is careful with them (מַאן דְּיָדַע לוֹן, וְאִזְדְּהַר בְּהוּ), fortunate is he in this world (זַכָּאָה אִיהוּ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא), and fortunate is he in the world to come (וְזַכָּאָה אִיהוּ בְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי). For he is the essence of the perfect union as is fitting (בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ עִקָרָא דְּיִחוּדָא שְׁלִים כַּדְקָא חָזֵי). Three and three from this side and that side (תְּלַת תְּלַת מִסִּטְרָא דָּא וּמִסִּטְרָא דָּא), in one union (בְּיִחוּדָא חֲדָא), in wholeness of all (בִּשְׁלִימוּ דְּכֹלָּא). And all of them are a secret of supernal order (וְכֻלְּהוּ רָזָא דְּסִדְרָא עִלָּאָה), as is proper and fitting (כַּדְקָא חֲזֵי), in the likeness of above (כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא), for that order is three and three in one secret (דְּהַהוּא סִדְרָא תְּלַת תְּלַת בְּרָזָא חֲדָא).