Your letter I received between Minchah and Maariv in the beis midrash — and I read it then — and how greatly you revived my soul at this time — especially with the letter from Lvov. Great are the deeds of Hashem — very deep are His thoughts [גְּדוֹלִים מַעֲשֵׂי ה' מְאֹד עָמְקוּ מַחְשְׁבוֹתָיו — combining two verses: Tehillim 111:2 — gedolim ma'asei Hashem d'rushim l'chol cheftzeihem — "great are the deeds of Hashem — sought out by all who desire them"; and Tehillim 92:6 — mah gadlu ma'asecha Hashem me'od amku machsh'vosecha — already identified in Letter 154 as the Psalm of Shabbos verse of incomprehensible divine providence. Here the two verses are woven into a single statement: the greatness of Hashem's deeds and the depth of His thoughts — both at once] [Tehillim 111:2; 92:6] — and as for us — there is no knowing how far it extends — we are only obligated to give thanks for the past — for every expansion and expansion that He, Yisborach, in His mercy expands for us in the constriction — in the flight of distress and oppression from every side — in a *machloket* like this — in humiliations like these — in such financial pressure — and especially in such spiritual poverty — that it is impossible to pray any prayer properly and so forth — even so — Hashem is with us at every time — and performs great wonders alone. And also at every time He illuminates for us in our understanding and shows us the sparkling of the sprouting of the horn of salvation at every time. What shall I say and what shall I speak. And through all of this we have the strength to await complete salvation always — as until now Hashem our G-d has done His wonders and His thoughts toward us and so forth.

And behold — our dear friend Rabbi Nachman — may his light shine — from Tulchin — has already informed you of the matter of my coming home in peace — praised be G-d — and you will also hear more about this — and you will understand the wonders of Hashem. Beyond this there is no time to extend now — and see to send me the iron quills [קֻלְמוֹסִים שֶׁל בַּרְזֶל — iron quills — as requested in Letter 163 and commented on in Letter 159's postscript with the verse from Koheles 10:10. The iron quill is both a practical writing instrument and, as Reb Nussun showed, a vehicle of spiritual teaching: even a dull instrument can write with increased force and intention] speedily — and great merit will be accounted for this. And my mind is still not clear from the journey's upheaval — therefore I will be brief and say peace.