# Ginzay Ramchal — Section 20: Tefillah Alef — Prayer on Ahavah
תְּפִלָּה א׳ — עַל הָאַהֲבָה
Source: https://ajew.org/reader/ramchal-ginzay-ramchal/1/20
## Segment 1
File 6 — Prayer 1 [א] v2 — full audit
## Segment 2
תְּפִלּוֹת לִפְנוֹת הַמֶּרְכָּבָה
## Segment 3
Prayers to [Face] the Corners of the Merkavah
## Segment 4
First Prayer — [א] (Prayer 1)
## Segment 5
§ 1. Opening Invocation — the Cascade of Divine Names
## Segment 6
רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, אֲקִי"ק יְק אֱלֹקִים, אֵל אֱלֹקִים ה', ה' צְבָאוֹת, אֱלֹקִים צְבָאוֹת, שַׁ-דַּי, אֲדֹנָ"י, אֶחָד יָחִיד וּמְיֻחָד. בָּרוּךְ שִׁמְךָ וּמְרוֹמַם זִכְרְךָ בְּפִי כָל עֶלְיוֹנִים וְתַחְתּוֹנִים, ה' אֱלֹקִים צְבָאוֹת מִי כָּמוֹךָ חֲסִין יְק וֶאֱמוּנָתְךָ סְבִיבוֹתֶיךָ. אֵל נַעֲרָץ בְּסוֹד קְדוֹשִׁים רַבָּה וְנוֹרָא עַל כָּל סְבִיבָיו. אֶחָד וְאֵין כְּיִחוּדֶךָ, חָכָם וְאֵין כְּמוֹתֶךָ, דּוֹרֵשׁ טוֹב לְעַמֶּךָ, וּמְבָרֵךְ נַחֲלָתְךָ בְּרוֹב עוֹז וְשָׁלוֹם. הֲלֹא לְהַגִּיעַ אֶל עוֹצֶם נִלְאִים כָּל חַכְמֵי לֵב. לִצְפּוֹת אֶל זִיו יְקָרְךָ תְּאֵבִים וְחוֹשְׁקִים. וּמִירְאָתְךָ חֲרֵדִים וְרוֹעֲשִׁים דֶּרֶךְ נוֹרָא זִיוּוְךָ, שָׁלֵם בְּעוֹצֶם אַחְדוּתָךְ. ה' אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד. שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ ה' אֶחָד.
**Master of all the worlds — *E-KI-K · Yah · Elokim*** [[יק] with Kof-substitution = יה = *Yah*, the shortened Divine Name], *E-l Elokim Hashem*, Hashem *Tzeva'os*, *Elokim Tzeva'os*, *Sha-dai*, *Adona"i* — One, Unique, and Singular. Blessed is Your Name and exalted is Your remembrance in the mouth of all the upper and the lower [beings]. **Hashem *Elokim Tzeva'os*, who is like You, mighty *Yah*, and Your faithfulness is round about You** [Tehillim 89:9 — "*mi kamokha chasin Yah*"]. G-d, revered in the *sod kedoshim rabah* (great council of holy-ones), and awesome over all His surroundings. One — and there is none like Your oneness; Wise — and there is none like You; Who seeks good for Your people, and blesses Your inheritance with abundance of strength and peace. Is it not so? — To attain Your essence, all the wise of heart are wearied. To gaze upon the radiance of Your preciousness, they yearn and desire; and from Your fear they tremble and shake — the way of Your awesome union (*zivug*) is complete in the power of Your oneness. **Hashem One and His Name One. Hear O Yisrael, Hashem our G-d, Hashem is One.**
## Segment 7
§ 2. "I come as a faithful servant before You"
## Segment 8
וַאֲנִי בָּא כְעֶבֶד נֶאֱמָן לְפָנֶיךָ, מְסַפֵּר תְּהִלֹּתֶיךָ בְּפִי, וּמַנְעִים כְּבוֹדְךָ בְּמֶתֶק שָׂפָה וְנֹעַם לָשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָנוּ לְסַפֵּר תְּהִלָּתָךְ. אֲסַפְּרָה כְבוֹדָךְ, אֲיַחֵד שִׁמְךָ מְיַחֶדְךָ, הָאֵל אֶחָד יָחִיד וּמְיֻחָד, אֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתָּ אֶת עַמָּךְ בְּתוֹקֶף אַהֲבָתָךְ הָעֲצוּמָה. אוֹרֵךְ הַנֶּעֱרָב בִּרְכַת הַדֶּרֶךְ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַם וְשָׁלוֹם. הַפְנֵה אֶל כָּל בְּרִיּוֹתֶיךָ בְּרוֹב חֹק חָכְמָה נִפְלָאָה, אֲשֶׁר סִדַּרְתָּ דְּרָכִים לְהִתְהַלֵּךְ בָּם, לְהֵיטִיב אֶל כֹּל, כִּי טוֹב חַסְדֶּךָ. הוֹדוּ לַה' כִּי טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ.
**And I come as a faithful servant before You, recounting Your praises with my mouth, and making pleasant Your honor** with the sweetness of lips and the pleasantness of tongue that You gave us to recount Your praise. **I shall recount Your honor, I shall declare-one the Name that You unify** — the G-d One, Unique, and Singular, who has loved Your people in the force of Your mighty love. Your length, sweetened — the blessing of the way upon Yisrael — a people and peace. Turn toward all Your creations in the abundance of Your wondrous-wisdom-engraved-laws, with which You arranged paths to walk in them, to do good to all — for Your *chesed* is good. *"Give thanks to Hashem, for He is good, for His chesed* endures forever" [Tehillim 118:1].
## Segment 9
§ 3. The Twenty-Six Ways of Faithfulness — 611 Great Lights
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כ"ו דַּרְכֵי אֱמוּנָתָךְ, יוֹצֵר הַכֹּל וּמֵטִיב לַמֵּאִיר לָאָרֶץ בְּאוֹרָךְ הַגָּדוֹל, הַמִּתְפַּשֵּׁט בְּרוֹב כֹּחוֹ לִתְרִ"א אוֹרִים גְּדוֹלִים, כַּדָּבָר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: *"כִּי אַתָּה תָּאִיר נֵרִי ה' אֱלֹקַי יַגִּיהַּ חָשְׁכִּי"*.
**Twenty-six ways of Your faithfulness** [26 = *YKVK*], **Former of all and Benefactor to the One-Who-illuminates-the-earth with Your great Light, which spreads forth in the abundance of its power to 611 great Lights** [[תרי"א] = 611 = *Torah* (תורה = 400+6+200+5 = 611)], as the matter is said: *"For You shall light my candle — Hashem my G-d illumines my darkness"* [Tehillim 18:29].
## Segment 11
§ 4. The Twenty-Seven Names — *Ki Be-kha Arutz Gedud*
## Segment 12
כ"ז שְׁמוֹתֶיךָ מְלֵאִים חָכְמָה וְהַשֵּׂכֶל, נִרְמָזִים בְּכ"ב אוֹתִיּוֹת וְחָמֵשׁ מוֹצָאֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶם: *"כִּי בָךְ אָרֻץ גְּדוּד"*, אֱלֹקִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל גָּדוֹל יְחוּדֶךָ תְּשַׁגְּבֵנִי צִדְקוֹתֶיךָ, שֶׁבּוֹ: *"בֵּאלֹקַי אֲדַלֶּג שׁוּ"ר"*. הִנְנִי בָא לְפָנֶיךָ, מַזְכִּיר בְּשֶׁבַח שִׁמְךָ הַקָּדוֹשׁ יְקָ"ק ב"ה. אוֹמֶץ דַּעְתְּךָ יִרְנְנוּ רָמִים, וְאֵלָיו וְלֹא יַגִּיעוּ. יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְפָנֶיךָ אַרְבַּעַת הַגְּבוּרִים, יוֹשְׁבִים עַל מְלֵאוֹת, אֲשֶׁר מִלֵּאתָ אוֹתָם כֹּחַ וּגְבוּרָה, לְהַשְׁגִּיחַ עַל כָּל צְבָאוֹתֶיךָ, לַעֲמוֹד בַּפֶּרֶץ וּלְמַהֵר תְּשׁוּעָה.
**Twenty-seven Names of Yours, filled with *chochmah* and *sekhel*, are alluded to in the 22 letters and the five places-of-their-issuing**, of which is said: *"For with You I run through a troop"* [Tehillim 18:30] — *Elokim be-Yisrael*, great is Your unity; may Your righteousnesses exalt me — of which: *"with my G-d I shall leap a wall"* [Tehillim 18:30]. **Behold I come before You, mentioning in praise Your Holy Name YK"K blessed-be-He.** The might of Your knowledge — the exalted ones shall sing, yet unto Him they shall not attain. **Before You shall prostrate themselves the four *giborim* (mighty ones) — seated upon Fullnesses — whom You filled with power and *gevurah* — to watch over all Your hosts, to stand in the breach and hasten salvation.**
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§ 5. "The First of Them All" — *KaCh"V*
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הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁבְּכֻלָּם **כַּחַ"ו** שָׁלֵם וְקָדוֹשׁ, מַרְאֶה יַחַד אַהֲבָתָךְ וְכֹחַ תַּעֲצוּמוֹתֶיךָ. אַתָּה הָאֵל עוֹשֶׂה פֶלֶא, הוֹדַעְתָּ בָעַמִּים עֻזֶּךָ. ה' אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד. בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.
**The first of them all — *KaCh"V*** [[כח"ו] = *kocho* (His strength), marked with gershayim to signal its significance] — **complete and holy — showing together Your *Ahavah* and the power of Your mightinesses**. *"You are the G-d who works wonder — You have made known Your strength among the peoples"* [Tehillim 77:15]. **Hashem is One and His Name is One. Blessed be the Name of His honored kingdom forever and ever.**
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§ 6. The Throne of Glory — "*Mah Rav Tuvekha*"
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הֲלֹא בְרוֹב יָפְיוֹ וַהֲדָרוֹ מָלֵא כָל פִּנּוֹת כִּסֵּא כְבוֹדָךְ. זִיו וְאוֹרָה וְנֹעַם קְדָשֶׁיךָ הָעֲטֶרֶת בְּרֹאשׁוֹ, כִּי אַתָּה אוֹהֵב אוֹהֲבֶיךָ וְנִמְצָא לִמְבַקְשֶׁיךָ. לֹא יֵבוֹשׁוּ כָל הַבּוֹטְחִים בָּךְ, וְאוֹמֵר: *"אֲנִי אֹהֲבַי אֵהָב וּמְשַׁחֲרַי יִמְצָאוּנְנִי"*. הִנְנִי בָא לְמַעַן אַהֲבָתְךָ אֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתָּ אֶת עַמְּךָ, לִפְתּוֹחַ דַּלְתוֹת טוּבָךְ וְשַׁעֲרֵי רַחֲמֶיךָ לִרְוָחָה, לָתוּר מְנוּחָה אֶל כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְמַעַן לֹא יִשְׂאוּ עוֹד חֶרְפַּת רָעָב בַּגּוֹיִם. וְנֶאֱמַר: *"כִּי הִשְׂבִּיעַ נֶפֶשׁ שׁוֹקֵקָה וְנֶפֶשׁ רְעֵבָה מִלֵּא טוֹב"*.
**Is it not that in the abundance of His beauty and splendor — all the Corners of the Throne of Your Glory are filled — the radiance and light and pleasantness of Your holinesses — the crown upon his head** — for You love those who love You and are found by those who seek You. *"All who trust in You shall not be put to shame"*, and He says: *"I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me shall find Me"* [Mishlei 8:17]. Behold I come for the sake of Your love with which You loved Your people — **to open the doors of Your goodness and the gates of Your mercies wide, to cause rest (*menuchah*) to reach all Your people Beis Yisrael**, that they bear no more the reproach of famine among the nations. And it is said: *"For He has satisfied the longing soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with good"* [Tehillim 107:9].
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§ 7. "*Elokai a-hallelkha*" — Beyond All Knowing
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אֱלֹקַי אֲהַלֶּלְךָ וְלֹא יְדַעְתִּיךָ, אֲדַמְּךָ וְלֹא רְאִיתִיךָ, אֲבָנֶךָ (?) וְהַדְּךָ לֹא הִשַּׂגְתִּי. אֲשֶׁר בְּהִתְלַהֵט אוֹר מִזִּיו כְּבוֹדְךָ הַנֶּעֱלָם וְהַנּוֹרָא מִתְעַטֵּר עַל רֹאשׁ אַרְבָּעָה דַּרְכֵי טוּבָךְ, לְהִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּמְּסִלּוֹת אֲשֶׁר הֲכִינוֹתָ. וְהוּא נִרְאֶה כִּדְגַל פָּרוּשׂ עַל הֶהָרִים הַגְּדוֹלִים, אֵלָיו יִשְׂאוּ עֵינָיו כָּל מְשָׁרְתֶיךָ. אִישׁ כִּתְרוֹ בְּרֹאשׁוֹ אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּ לוֹ לְעֶבֶד עֲבוֹדָתוֹ בֶּאֱמֶת וּבֶאֱמוּנָה. וְאֵלֶיךָ כּוֹרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים וּמְהַלְּלִים שִׁמְךָ בִּקְדוּשָּׁה רַבָּה, וּמַכִּירִים אֲדוֹנוּתֶךָ, כִּי אַתָּה אֶחָד יָחִיד וּמְיֻחָד.
**My G-d, I shall praise You though I have not known You, I shall liken You though I have not seen You, *avanekha*** [[אֲבָנֶךָ] — printed with "(?)" indicating editorial uncertainty; possibly "I shall build You" or "I shall discern You"] ** — but Your splendor I have not attained.** For in the blazing of Light from the radiance of Your hidden and awesome Glory — it crowns upon the head of the four ways of Your goodness, to walk in the paths that You established. And it appears as a banner unfurled upon the great mountains — unto it all Your servants shall lift their eyes. **Each with his crown upon his head, which You gave him to serve You as a servant in truth and faith.** And before You they kneel and prostrate and praise Your Name in great holiness, and recognize Your lordship — **for You are One, Unique, and Singular**.
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§ 8. Arrival at the First Corner — *Ahavah* and *Cheshek*
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וּבְהַגִּיעַ הָאוֹר הַשָּׁלֵם הַזֶּה אֶל הַמָּקוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר כִּוְּנַנְתָּ, הוּא מְקוֹם אַהֲבָה וְהַחֵשֶׁק אֲשֶׁר חָשַׁקְתָּ בְּרוֹב טוּבָךְ. מִי יְמַלֵּל רוֹב גְּאוֹנוֹ וְהָדַר עוֹצֶם תִּפְאֶרֶת גְּדוּלָתוֹ, כִּי הוּא מַמְשִׁיךְ אֵלָיו כָּל צִנּוֹרוֹת הַמֶּרְכָּבָה בְּרַחֲמִים גְּדוֹלִים, וּמַמְשִׁיךְ נוֹעַם אֶל כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּעֲשָׂרָה קְשָׁרִים נִכְבָּדִים וְנוֹרָאִים אֲשֶׁר הַכִּנּוּיִים בְּסוֹד שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא קָדוֹשׁ הוּא **יוֹ"ד קָ"א וָא"ו קָ"א**. אַרְבַּע חֲשָׁכִים תַּחַת כַּפּוֹת רַגְלָיו, עַל בְּמוֹתֵימוֹ תִדְרוֹךְ בְּכֹחַ גָּדוֹל וּבְיָד חֲזָקָה, כִּי שִׁמְךָ הַקָּדוֹשׁ נִקְרָא עַל עַמְּךָ, וְשַׂמְתָּ תַּחְתֵּיהֶם הֲמוֹן עַמִּים רַבִּים. וּכְתָרוּךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בְּרֹאשָׁם אֱמֶת, כַּדָּבָר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: *"וְאָנֹכִי נְטַעְתִּיךְ שׂוֹרֵק כֻּלֹּה זֶרַע אֱמֶת"*.
**And upon the arrival of this complete Light at the first place that You intended — it is the place of *Ahavah* and the *cheshek* (longing) with which You longed in the abundance of Your goodness.** Who can utter the abundance of His majesty and the splendor of the mighty beauty of His greatness — for he draws to himself all the channels of the Merkavah with great mercies, and draws forth pleasantness to all Your people Beis Yisrael — through ten honored and awesome bindings — whose appellations are in the secret of Your Great, Mighty, and Awesome Holy Name — ***YUD-KA VAV-KA*** [[יו"ד קָ"א וָא"ו קָ"א] — the *Ma"h*-spelling of YHVH (with Kof for Heh reverent-substitution): 20+6+13+6 = **45** = *Ma"h* = the *partzuf* of *Ze'ir Anpin*]. **Four darknesses under the palms of His feet — upon their heights You shall tread with great power and with a strong hand** — for Your Holy Name is called upon Your people, and You have placed beneath them the multitude of many peoples. **And they crown You, the Holy One — upon their head — truth** — as the matter is said: *"And I planted you a choice vine, entirely a true seed"* [Yirmiyahu 2:21].
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§ 9. The Crown Stands — "*Yismach Hashem be-Ma'asav*"
## Segment 22
בִּהְיוֹת הַכֶּתֶר הַזֶּה עוֹמֵד עַל מַתְכֻּנְתּוֹ בְּרֹאשׁ בָּנֶיךָ עִם קָדְשֶׁיךָ, מִי יָעִיז לְפָנֶיךָ, וּמִי יוּכַל לְהִתְיַצֵּב לִמְנוֹעַ מִמְּךָ שִׁמְךָ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה שַׂמְתָּ בָּהֶם, כַּדָּבָר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: *"יְהִי כְבוֹד ה' לְעוֹלָם יִשְׂמַח ה' בְּמַעֲשָׂיו"*. הֲלֹא אֵלֶיךָ יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ כָל רָאשֵׁי צָבָא, לְפָנֶיךָ יִכְרְעוּ וְיִפְּלוּ כָּל הָעֹבְדִים אֲשֶׁר בָּרָאתָ לִדְבָרְךָ, וּמֶמְשַׁלְתָּךְ קָדוֹשׁ עֲלֵיהֶם.
**When this Crown stands in its proper state upon the head of Your sons with Your holy ones — who shall dare before You? And who shall be able to stand to prevent from You the Name which You set in them**, as the matter is said: *"May the Glory of Hashem be forever; Hashem shall rejoice in His works"* [Tehillim 104:31]. Is it not that to You shall bow down all the heads of the army — before You shall kneel and fall all the servants whom You created by Your word — and Your rulership is holy upon them.
## Segment 23
§ 10. "*Aneni Hashem Aneni*" — the Cloud of Truth
## Segment 24
ה' אֱלֹקִים אֱמֶת עֲנֵנִי בַאֲמִתֶּךָ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. עֲנֵנִי ה' עֲנֵנִי, וְיֵדְעוּ כִּי אַתָּה אֱלֹקִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֵין זוּלָתֶךָ, קָדוֹשׁ וְנוֹרָא. כַּאֲשֶׁר דָּרַכְתָּ עַל גֵּאִים בְּהוֹצִיאֲךָ אֶת עַמְּךָ מִמִּצְרַיִם, כֵּן תִּדְרוֹךְ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. וְאוֹמַר: *"אָשִׁירָה לה' כִּי גָאֹה גָּאָה סוּס וְרֹכְבוֹ רָמָה בַיָּם"*.
**Hashem *Elokim Emes* — answer me in Your truth this day.** *"Answer me, Hashem, answer me"* [Melachim I 18:37 — Eliyahu's prayer at Har HaCarmel] — and let them know that You are *Elokim* in Yisrael and there is none other than You, holy and awesome. As You trod upon the prideful in Your bringing forth Your people from Egypt, so shall You tread this day. And I shall say: *"I shall sing to Hashem, for He is highly exalted — the horse and its rider He cast into the sea"* [Shemos 15:1].
## Segment 25
§ 11. Second Corner: *Yir'ah* — *Chashmalim* and the Name *YA-KD-VN-KY*
## Segment 26
אַתָּה קָדוֹשׁ וְשִׁמְךָ קָדוֹשׁ וּקְדוֹשִׁים כָּל יוֹם יְהַלְלוּךָ סֶלָה. חַשְׁמַלִּים קְדוֹשִׁים וּטְהוֹרִים מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לְפָנֶיךָ בְּאֵימָה בְּיִרְאָה בִּרְתֵת וּבְזִיעָה. אֵשׁ לוֹהֵט מְפִיקֵי אֵימָה, חַיְלֵי חֹסֶן וּגְבוּרָה, רָמִים וְנִשְׂגָּבִים מְמַהֲרִים, לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנָךְ בְּכָל פֶּה וּבְכָל לָשׁוֹן. בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁשִּׁמְךָ הַקָּדוֹשׁ מִתְעַטֵּף בְּאוֹר הַדְרָתוֹ, נִרְאוּ שָׁם אַרְבַּע רָאשֵׁי זִיו, מְקַבְּלִים זֶה מִזֶּה, וּמְמַלְּ(ל)[ל]ִים זֶה לָזֶה בְּרוֹב פַּחַד וּרְעָדָה. בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַדִּבּוּר יוֹצֵא מִלְּפָנֶיךָ — כֻּלָּם חָשִׁים וְלֹא נִשְׁמַע דָּבָר, וּתְאָוָתָם לְנֶגְדָּךְ. מְקַבְּלִים אוֹתוֹ בְּרוֹב קְדוּשָׁה דַעַת וְקוֹל שִׁירָה, מְבָרְכִים אוֹתוֹ בְּמֵאָה בְּרָכוֹת, וּמִתְמַלְּאִים מִמֶּנּוּ זִיו וְהָדָר. וְנִרְאוּ כֻלָּם כְּאֵשׁ לוֹהֵט. מִי יָכוֹל לְהַפִּיל הֶגֶה מִפִּיהֶם בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהֵם מַגִּיעִים הַדִּבּוּר (ו) [ז] זֶה לָזֶה, כִּי כֻלּוֹ אֵשׁ לוֹהֵט וְלֶהָבָה בּוֹעֲרָה, מִתְנוֹצְצִים בְּרוֹב תּוֹקְפָּם, עוֹלִים וְיוֹרְדִים בְּלִי רִפְיוֹן. מְזוּמָּנִים לְצִוּוּיֵי קָדְשָׁךְ, וַאֲדוֹנוּתְךָ בָּהֶם **יָאֲקְדוּנְקִ"י**. בִּשְׁמוֹנָה גַּוְנֵי אוֹרוֹת מִתְלַהֵט בְּתוֹכָם, וְכֹחַ עַד אֵין תַּכְלִית, וּמֵהֶם מְקַבְּלִים כָּל שָׂרֵי אֱמוּנָתֶךָ וְחַיְלוֹת קָדְשֶׁךָ, גִּבּוֹרֵי כֹחַ עוֹשֵׂי דְבָרוֹ, כַּדָּבָר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: *"בָּרֲכוּ ה' מַלְאָכָיו גִּבֹּרֵי כֹחַ עוֹשֵׂי דְבָרוֹ לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקוֹל דְּבָרוֹ"*. בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָאַהֲבָה מִתְגַּבֶּרֶת, פּוֹנִים כֻּלָּם לְהַחֲזִיק יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמָּךְ, וּמִשְׁתַּלְהֲבִים בְּתוֹקֶף אֵשׁ רִשְׁפֵּי ... אֵשׁ מְרוּקָם בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר מִינֵי צְבָעִים הַמִּתְפּוֹצְצִים בְּרוֹב תִּפְאָרָה, וּמַטִּילִים אֵימָה עַל כָּל אוֹיְבֶיךָ, וְאַהֲבָה עַל כָּל אוֹהֲבֶיךָ, כַּדָּבָר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: *"כִּי עַזָּה כַמָּוֶת אַהֲבָה קָשָׁה כִשְׁאוֹל קִנְאָה רְשָׁפֶיהָ רִשְׁפֵּי אֵשׁ שַׁלְהֶבֶתְיָה"*.
...song, **blessing Him with a hundred blessings, and they are filled by Him with radiance and splendor**. And all appear as blazing Fire. Who can cast an utterance from their mouths at the hour that they convey the Utterance one to another — for all of them is blazing Fire and burning Flame — sparkling in great force — ascending and descending without weakness. Prepared for the commands of Your holiness — and Your lordship is in them — ***YA-KD-VN-KY*** [[יָאֲקְדוּנְקִ"י] — the classical *Yichud* (interwoven) Name: the letters of YHVH (*Y-H-V-H*) braided with those of *Adona"i* (*A-D-N-Y*) in alternation, giving *Y-A-H-D-V-N-H-Y* (8 letters), with Kof-substitution for both Hehs]. **In eight shades of Lights it blazes within them**, with power unto the endless — and from them all the officers of Your faithfulness and hosts of Your holiness receive — *giborei koach* (mighty in strength) doing His word, as the matter is said: *"Bless Hashem, His angels — giborei koach*, doing His word, to hearken to the voice of His word" [Tehillim 103:20]. At the hour that *Ahavah* strengthens — all turn to strengthen Yisrael Your people, and are inflamed in the force of the Fire of the flashes... a Fire interwoven with **fifteen kinds of colors** bursting forth in great splendor — casting dread upon all Your enemies, and love upon all Your lovers, as the matter is said: *"For Love is strong as death, jealousy fierce as Sheol — her flashes are flashes of fire, the flame of G-d"* [Shir HaShirim 8:6].
## Segment 27
§ 12. The Four *Chayos* Bearing Four Names
## Segment 28
רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים אֶחָד יָחִיד וּמְיֻחָד, מִי יְמַלֵּל נֹעַם תִּפְאַרְתָּךְ וַהֲדַר קְדוּשָּׁתָךְ, בְּפָרְשָׂךְ אַרְבַּע חַיּוֹת תַּחַת כִּסֵּא קָדְשָׁךְ. נִרְאוֹת כְּנוּשָׂאוֹת וְהֵם נְשׂוּאוֹת, סְבוּלוֹת בְּתוֹקְפָּךְ, אַרְבַּע פָּנִים לְאֶחָד, וּדְמוּת אָדָם לָהֶנָּה. אַרְבַּע כְּנָפַיִם לְכַסּוֹת בִּקְדוּשָּׁה נֹעַם הַדְרָתָךְ, וּמִכְּבוֹדָךְ רָצִים וְשָׁבִים, רוֹעֲשִׁים בְּרַעַשׁ גָּדוֹל, עוֹמְדִים בְּכָל שָׁעָה לַעֲשׂוֹת שְׁלִיחוּתָךְ, בֶּאֱמוּנָה רַבָּה הֵם עוֹשִׂים, דֶּגֶל נוֹרָא בְּרֹאשָׁם. בָּרֹאשׁ הָאֶחָד **אֵל**, וּבָרֹאשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי **אֱלֹקִים**, וּבָרֹאשׁ הַשְּׁלִישִׁי **יְקֹו"ק**, וּבָרֹאשׁ הָרְבִיעִי **אֲדֹנָי**. נוֹשְׂאֵי מַשָּׂא תֹּקֶף עֲבוֹדָתָךְ לְאַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ. וְתַחְתֵּיהֶם כַּמָּה צְבָאוֹת הָעוֹמְדִים עַל הַפְּקוּדִים, מְלֵאִים חָכְמָה וְהַשֵּׂכֶל, מִתְיַחֲדִים בְּיִחוּד אֶחָד בְּכִסְּאָךְ הַנִּשְׂגָּב, וְנוֹרָא עֲלֵיהֶם, וְאֵלֶיךָ בְּאֵימָה יַעֲרִיצוּ. שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר פָּנִים, פְּנֵי אָדָם לְהֵמָּה, נִרְאֶה כֻלָּם בְּרוֹב קְדוּשָׁה, שֶׁהֵם י"ג כְּמִנְיָן אֶחָד. מִתְחַבְּרִים בְּאַהֲבָה, וְאוֹרָם רָבָה עַד אֵין תַּכְלִית. לָדַעַת כִּי אַהֲבַת עוֹלָמִים אַתָּה אוֹהֵב אֶת עַמָּךְ, וְשֵׁמוֹת נוֹרָאִים מוּפְלָאִים בְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם נִמְצְאוּ לְכָל כַּנְפֵיהֶם, לְכַסּוֹת אוֹר יְחוּדָךְ הַגָּדוֹל, וְאוֹמֵר: *"מָה רַב טוּבָךְ אֲשֶׁר צָפַנְתָּ לִירֵאֶיךָ פָּעַלְתָּ לַחוֹסִים בָּךְ נֶגֶד בְּנֵי אָדָם"*.
**Master of all the worlds — One, Unique, and Singular — who can utter the pleasantness of Your beauty and the splendor of Your holiness — as You spread out the four *Chayos* beneath Your Throne of Holiness**. They appear as those who are carried, and they [themselves] are carriers — borne in Your force — four faces to each one, and the likeness of Adam upon them. Four wings to cover in holiness the pleasantness of Your majesty, and from Your Glory they run and return — thundering in great roar — standing at every hour to do Your errand — in great faithfulness they act — an awesome banner upon their head: **on the first head — *E-l*; on the second head — *Elokim*; on the third head — *YKVK*; and on the fourth head — *Adona"i***. **Bearers of the burden (*noseh masa*) of the force of Your service to the four corners of the earth.** And beneath them, how many hosts stand upon the appointments, filled with *chochmah* and *sekhel*, uniting together as one in Your exalted Throne — and awesome upon them — and to You in dread they exalt. **Twelve faces, faces of Adam upon them — all seen in great holiness — which are 13 as the gematria of *Echad*** [[אחד] = 13]. They join together in *Ahavah*, and their Light grows without end — to know that with eternal love You love Your people — and awesome Names, wondrous in their deeds, are found upon all their wings, to cover the Light of Your great unity. And He says: *"How great is Your good which You have hidden for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who trust in You — before the sons of Adam"* [Tehillim 31:20].
## Segment 29
§ 13. "*Mi yesaper*" — the One Ru'ach for All the *Chayos*
## Segment 30
מִי יְסַפֵּר טוּבָךְ קָדוֹשׁ, אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתָּ רוּחַ אֶחָד לְכָל חַיּוֹת הַקֹּדֶשׁ, וְהָאוֹפַנִּים מִתְנַשְּׂאִים לְעֻמָּתָם. הוּא הָרוּחַ הַשָּׁלֵם בַּכֹּחַ, וְהַנֶּאֱדָּר בְּעוֹצֶם תּוֹקְפוֹ, הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הָאַיִן הַנֶּעְלָם, רֹאשׁ כָּל הָרָאשִׁים, וּמְקוֹר כָּל הַמְּקוֹרוֹת, הַמִּתְהַלֵּךְ בְּכָל הַלְּבָבוֹת בְּיַחַד אֶחָד, וּמַנְהִיג לְכָל הָאֵבָרִים לְפִי רְצוֹנָךְ, וְאֵין יוֹצֵא מֵרְצוֹנָךְ. מִי יְמַלֵּל הַדָרוֹ וְרוֹב כְּבוֹדוֹ, בְּהִמָּשְׁכוֹ בִּמְנוּחָה רַבָּה בְּנֹעַם טוּבָךְ, כִּי בוֹ מָצְאוּ הַשֶּׁקֶט וּבֶטַח כָּל הַמְּאוֹרוֹת הַגְּדוֹלִים, וְנִתְמַלְּאוּ חֵשֶׁק בְּלַהֶבֶת אַהֲבָתָךְ, עַד שֶׁבְּהִתְדַּבְּקָם זֶה בָּזֶה נִרְאוּ כֻלָּם כְּאֶחָד, חִיּוּךְ עֶלְיוֹן נִרְאֶה חוֹפֵף עֲלֵיהֶם לְמַעְלָה וּלְמַטָּה וּלְאַרְבַּע הָרוּחוֹת, לָדַעַת שֶׁאַתָּה וְשִׁמְךָ אֶחָד. שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ ה' אֶחָד.
**Who can recount Your goodness, Holy One, who placed one Ru'ach for all the Holy *Chayos* — and the *Ofanim* rise up to meet them** [Yechezkel 1:19-20]. It is the Ru'ach complete in power, and mighty in the force of strength — issuing from the hidden *Ayin*, **the Head of all heads, the Source of all sources — walking in all hearts as one unit, and leading every limb according to Your will — and nothing proceeds outside Your will**. Who can utter His splendor and the abundance of His Glory — as he is drawn in great *menuchah* in the pleasantness of Your goodness — **for in Him all the great luminaries found *hashket u-vetach* (tranquility and trust)** [the same phrase that opens the Fourth Corner — cf. File 5], and were filled with longing in the flame of Your love — **until in their cleaving one to another, all appear as one** — Your supernal *chiyuch* [[חיוך] — "smile" / "life-quality" / "manifestation"; here in Ramchal's usage likely the supernal manifestation of the One] seen hovering upon them above and below, and to the four directions — to know that You and Your Name are One. **Hear O Yisrael, Hashem our G-d, Hashem is One.**
## Segment 31
§ 14. Third Corner: *Shalom* — the *Rakia* and the Letter *Reish*
## Segment 32
מִי יַגִּיד נֹעַם קְדוּשָּׁתָךְ, הַמִּתְפַּשֶּׁטֶת מִלְּפָנֶיךָ סָבִיב סָבִיב, מִתְהַלֶּכֶת בִּנְטִיַּת אָהֳלָהּ, לָתֵת שֹׁרֶשׁ לְכָל הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים. וְכָל שָׂרֵי צְבָאוֹתֶיךָ בָּאִים וְחוֹסִים בְּצִלָּהּ, עוֹמְדִים תַּחַת אַרְבַּעַת הַדְּגָלִים, וּמַכִּירִים כָּל אֶחָד מְקוֹמוֹ. שָׁם יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לָךְ, יִכְרְעוּ וְיִפּוֹלוּ, וִיפַלְלוּ שִׁמְךָ בְּעֹצֶם אֱמוּנָתָם, שֶׁאַתָּה יָחִיד אָדוֹן מוֹשֵׁל עֲלֵיהֶם, נִשְׂגָּב וְנֶעְלָם, אֲשֶׁר הַקְּדִישׁוּךָ וּכְבוֹדָךְ לֹא רָאוּ, יְבָרְכוּךָ וְעַיִן לֹא נֶאֱתַף, כַּדָּבָר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: *"וָאֶשְׁמַע אַחֲרַי קוֹל רַעַשׁ גָּדוֹל בָּרוּךְ כְּבוֹד ה' מִמְּקוֹמוֹ"*. הוּא הָרָקִיעַ הַנּוֹרָא הַשָּׁלֵם וְהַטָּהוֹר, אֲשֶׁר נְטִיַּת מָסָךְ לְפָנֶיךָ. מִי יוּכַל לְהַגִּיד רֹב תִּפְאַרְתּוֹ, כִּי הוּא מִתְפּוֹצֵץ בְּזוֹהֲרוֹ מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ וְעַד קְצֵה הָאָרֶץ, מֵאִיר וּמַזְהִיר כָּל מַחְשָׁךְ וַאֲפֵלָה. יְהִי כְבוֹד ה' לְעוֹלָם יִשְׂמַח ה' בְּמַעֲשָׂיו, יְהִי שֵׁם ה' מְבֹרָךְ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם. בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָרָקִיעַ הַזֶּה נִרְאֶה נָטוּי עַל רָאשֵׁי חַיּוֹת הַקֹּדֶשׁ, שָׂמוּ פְּנֵיהֶם כֻּלָּם לְיִחוּדָךְ, וְיָדְעוּ כֹּחַ קְדוּשָּׁתֶךָ בְּאוֹת **ר**' שֶׁל שִׁמְךָ הַקָּדוֹשׁ, שֶׁהוּא אַהֲבָתְךָ מִתְגַּבֶּרֶת עַד אֵין קֵץ וְעַד אֵין תַּכְלִית. מִיָּד פּוֹתְחִים פִּיהֶם וְאוֹמְרִים: *"וּמִי כְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ"*. *"אַשְׁרֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִי כָמוֹךָ עַם נוֹשַׁע בַּה' מָגֵן עֶזְרֶךָ וַאֲשֶׁר חֶרֶב גַּאֲוָתֶךָ וְיִכָּחֲשׁוּ אֹיְבֶיךָ לָךְ וְאַתָּה עַל בָּמוֹתֵימוֹ תִדְרוֹךְ"*.
**Who can tell the pleasantness of Your holiness, spreading before You round about — walking in the pitching of her tent, to give Root to all the lower ones.** And all the officers of Your hosts come and take refuge in her shade, standing under the four banners, and recognizing — each one — his place. There they prostrate before You, kneel and fall, and pray-to Your Name in the power of their faith — that You are the unique Ruler over them, exalted and hidden — whose sanctifications and Glory **they did not see** — they bless You though the eye cannot grasp [You], as the matter is said: *"And I heard behind me a voice of a great roaring: 'Blessed be the Glory of Hashem from His place'"* [Yechezkel 3:12]. **It is the awesome, complete, and pure *Rakia*, which is the pitching of the curtain before You.** Who can declare the abundance of its splendor — for it bursts forth in its radiance from one end of the earth to the other, illuminating and causing to shine every darkness and gloom. *"May the Glory of Hashem be forever; Hashem shall rejoice in His works"*. *"May the Name of Hashem be blessed from now and forever"* [Tehillim 113:2]. At the hour this *Rakia* is seen stretched upon the heads of the Holy *Chayos* — **they placed their faces — all of them — toward Your unity**, and knew the power of Your holiness **in the letter *Reish* of Your Holy Name** [the specific Name containing *Reish* is not explicitly identified in the source — possibly referring to a Merkavah-related Name] — that Your love intensifies without end and without limit. Immediately they open their mouths and say: *"And who is like Your people Yisrael, one nation in the earth"* [Shmuel II 7:23]. *"Happy are you, Yisrael — who is like you, a people saved by Hashem, the Shield of your help, and the Sword of your pride — your enemies shall be subdued to you, and you shall tread upon their heights"* [Devarim 33:29].
## Segment 33
§ 15. The *Kisei HaKavod* and the Stone Rejected by the Builders
## Segment 34
מִי יַגִּיד מְהַלֶּלָךְ, אֲשֶׁר כּוֹנַנְתָּ לָךְ כִּסֵּא כָּבוֹד הָדוּר וְנִפְלָא, מִשָּׁם מַחְצָב לְנִשְׁמוֹת עַמָּךְ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ לָךְ בְּרוֹב חֶסֶד וְאַהֲבָה, וְשָׁם חֲקַקְתָּ דְמוּת יַעֲקֹב תְּמִימָךְ. וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁעֲווֹנוֹת עוֹלִים מִן הָאָרֶץ, וְכַמָּה עֲנָנִים עוֹלִים לְהַחֲשִׁיךְ אוֹרוֹת אַהֲבָתָךְ, בְּהַגִּיעָם עַד לִפְנֵי כִּסֵּא כְבוֹדָךְ נִתְפַּזְּרוּ כֻלָּם כְּאֶחָד, וְאִישׁ לֹא עָמַד בְּפָנֶיךָ, בְּרוֹב חֵשֶׁק וְחִבָּה אֲשֶׁר רָשַׁמְתָּ שָׁם לְפָנֶיךָ צִדְקַת עֲבָדֶיךָ — אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיִשְׂרָאֵל. וּשְׁלֹשָׁה עֲטָרוֹת בְּרֹאשָׁם מְאִירִים וּמַזְהִירִים בְּכָל כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ, וְשָׁם הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה עֲטָרוֹת שֵׁם אֶחָד פֶּלֶא. דּוֹדְךָ עַבְדָּךְ כַּשְׁעוֹלָה וּמִתְחַבֵּר עִמָּהֶם, אָז נִרְאָה שָׁם אֶבֶן טְהוֹרָה מְלֵא חֵן וָיוֹפִי, מְקַבֶּלֶת אוֹר גָּדוֹל מִלִּפְנֵי תּוֹקֶף קְדוּשָּׁתָךְ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ: *"אֶבֶן מָאֲסוּ הַבּוֹנִים הָיְתָה לְרֹאשׁ פִּנָּה"*, וְהִיא **אֶבֶן לְרֹאשׁ פִּנָּה**, ר"ת **אֶלֶף**, מִצַּד פֶּלֶא שֶׁאֲמַרְנוּ. וְאָז נֶאֱמַר בָּהּ: *"מֵאֵת ה' הָיְתָה זֹּאת הִיא נִפְלָאת בְּעֵינֵינוּ"*. וְעַל הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה הָעֲטָרוֹת — שָׁלֹשׁ אוֹתִיּוֹת **יר"י**, כְּמִנְיָן שִׁמְךָ הַקָּדוֹשׁ, וְנַעֲשִׂים אֶלֶף אַחֶרֶת בְּזֹאת הָאֶבֶן, מֵאֵת ה' הָיְתָה זֹאת וַדַּאי. שָׁם נִגְלָה עִם אַהֲבָתָךְ אֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתָּ לְעַמָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד עוֹלָם. וְהִיא הַכִּסֵּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ: *"כְּמַרְאֵה אֶבֶן סַפִּיר דְּמוּת כִּסֵּא"*. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה וּבָרוּךְ שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עוֹלָמִים.
**Who can declare Your praise — that You established for Yourself a Throne of Glory, majestic and wondrous — from there the quarry for the *neshamos* of Your people Beis Yisrael, whom You redeemed for Yourself** in the abundance of *chesed* and *ahavah* — and there You engraved the likeness of Yaakov Your perfect one. And at the hour that transgressions ascend from the earth, and how many clouds rise up to darken the lights of Your love — upon their reaching before Your Throne of Glory they all scatter as one, and no one stands before You — **in the abundance of longing and affection with which You inscribed there before You the righteousness of Your servants** — **Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yisrael**. And three crowns upon their head, illuminating and shining in all the corners of the earth — and there in the three crowns [is] one wondrous Name. Your beloved, Your servant [David], ascends as one who climbs, and joins with them — then there appears a pure stone, filled with grace and beauty, receiving great Light from before the force of Your holiness — of which is said: *"The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone"* [Tehillim 118:22] — **and she is "*Even le-Rosh Pinah*" — *rashei teivos* (initials) spelling *ELEF*** [[אֶבֶן לְרֹאשׁ פִּנָּה] — initials: א-ל-ר-פ? Or per standard reading of initials: **א**בן **ל**ראש **פ**נה = *ELEF* (אלף), the letter *Alef* / the number 1000] **— from the side of the *pele* (wonder) we mentioned**. And then is said of it: *"From Hashem this came to be; it is wondrous in our eyes"* [Tehillim 118:23]. **And upon the three crowns — three letters *Y-R-Y*** [[יר"י] = 10+200+10 = 220] **— as the gematria of Your Holy Name** [the specific Name with this gematria is not explicitly identified] **— and they become another *Alef* in this Stone** — "from Hashem this came to be," certainly. There was revealed the *Ahavah* that You loved Your people Yisrael unto eternity. And she is the Throne of which is said: *"as the appearance of a sapphire stone, the likeness of a throne"* [Yechezkel 1:26]. **Blessed are You, and blessed is Your Name forever and unto all eternities.**
## Segment 35
§ 16. Fourth Corner: Ten Luminaries Blazing as One
## Segment 36
מִי יְחַוֶּה כֹּחַ קָדְשָׁךְ בְּסִדְרְךָ נִפְלָאוֹת דְּמוּת עֲשָׂרָה מְאוֹרוֹת, מִתְלַהֲטִים כְּאֶחָד, אִישׁ פּוֹנֶה לְעֶבְרוֹ, וְכוּלָּם לְצַד אֶחָד (נָחֳנוּ) [נָתְנוּ] פְּנֵיהֶם, מְקוֹם הַחֶמְדָּה הַרְבֵּה, חֶמְדַּת יָמִים אוֹתָהּ קָרָאתָ קֹדֶשׁ שַׁבַּת מְנוּחָה. וְנֶאֱמַר בָּהֶם: *"וְעַל דְּמוּת הַכִּסֵּא דְּמוּת כְּמַרְאֵה אָדָם עָלָיו מִלְמָעְלָה"*. מִי יְסַפֵּר תּוֹקֶף עֲטָרוֹתֶיךָ הַמִּתְגָּאִים וְעוֹלִים עַד רוּם כָּל הַמַּדְרֵיגוֹת מִלְמַעְלָה. וּמַרְאֵה כְבוֹדָךְ נֶעְלָם וְנוֹרָא, כָּלוּל מִכָּל יוֹפִי וְחֶמְדָּה בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה אוֹתִיּוֹת מִשִּׁמְךָ הַקָּדוֹשׁ יְקָ"ק,
**Who can tell the power of Your holiness, in Your arrangement of wonders — the form of ten luminaries, blazing as one — each one turning to his side, and all of them (rest) [place] their faces to one direction** — the place of great longing — the delight of days — which You called "Holy *Shabbos Menuchah*." And it is said of them: *"And upon the likeness of the Throne was a likeness as the appearance of Adam upon it from above"* [Yechezkel 1:26]. Who can recount the force of His crowns — rising ever more to the height of all the levels from above. **And the appearance of Your Glory is hidden and awesome — composed of all beauty and delight — in three letters of Your Holy Name YK"K**,
## Segment 37
[The First Prayer continues into p. 337, which will be addressed in File 7.]