The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)
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647. Toward good, like as it is written, Dan. ix. 18 : “ Open Thine eyes and behold our desolations, and the city over which Thy name hath been pronounced. Here it is toward good.
648. But toward evil, like as it is written, Isa. xxxiii. 20 : “ Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down ; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed.” Here truly it is toward good and toward evil, because the one existeth not without the other.
* l.e. the black and the red, which are here represented as simultaneously involving each other.
+ In our version it is translated “face to face,” and not “eye to eye but in the original Hebrew it is OIN BOIN, Ayin Be-Ayint “ eye to eye.”
649. We have learned it in the “ Book of Concealed
Mystery.” What is this ? “ Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation.” Is not Jerusalem therefore a quiet habitation ? Also it is written, Isa. i. 2 1 : “ Justice dwelt therein.” But in the place wherein justice is found there is not rest, neither is it at peace (otherwise : In the place wherein judgment dwelleth and is found, this justice is not rest, &c.).
650. For verily this is the true interpretation : “ Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation ” (is thus to be explained). The habitation is said to be quiet, in respect of the Ancient of Days, whQ looketh upon those eyes (of Microjorosopus ) .
651. For truly His eye is quiet and tranquil ; the eye of mercy, the eye which altereth not from this aspect unto any other aspect.
652. And therefore is it written OINK* (instead of
OINIK) “ They shall behold Thine eye : ” not Thine eyes,
( seeing OINK is written) without the second I, Yod.
653. But how cometh it that it is said Jerusalem, and not Zion ? It is properly thus said for the purpose of subjugating judgment which was found therein, and for exciting mercy upon it.
- 654. Also have we learned this. It is written, Deut.
- xi. 12 t “ The eyes of Tetragrammaton thy God are upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.” This is that which is written : “ Justice dwelt therein ; ” because therein are found many most severe judgments, as in all other instances.
655. But in the time to come there shall be found therein one eye of mercy (namely), the eye of the Ancient of Days.
656. This is that which is intimated, Isa. liv. 7: u But with great mercies will I gather thee.”
657. Where, because it is said “with mercies,” what
* OINK signifies (t tliine eye,” in the singular.
KABBALAH . .
is (the meaning of the adjective ) “ great ” {used herewit Assuredly because mercy is duplicated, (namely) the mercy of the Ancient of Days (Macroprosopus), which is called “ great mercies.”
658. And the mercy of Microprosopus, which is called mercies plain and unqualified, seeing that in Him there are right and left,* (symbolizing the balance of) Justice and Mercy. And therefore is it said : “ And in great mercies will I gather thee ; ” those, namely, of the Ancient of Days.
659. This have we learned. In those eyes (of Microprosopus), and in theotwo colours of them — namely, in the red and in the black — there are said to abide two tears ; and when He, even the Holy of the Holy Ones, desireth to have mercy upon the Israelites, then He sendeth down those two tears so that they may grow sweet in the (waters of the) great sea.
660. The great sea, which is that of excellent wisdom, so that in that stream (otherwise, white brilliance) and in that fountain they may be cleansed ; and they go forth from the great sea, and there is mercy upon the Israelites.
CHAPTER XXXII.
CONCERNING THE NOSE OF MICROPROSOPUS.
661. We have learned it in the “Book of Concealed Mystery.” The nose of Microprosopus. From the nose is the countenance known. In this nose is diverse symbolism.
662. For it is written, Ps. xviii. 8 : “There went up
* Right and left exist in Microprosopus, while in Macroprosopns all is right. The latter is rather to be symbolize 1 by a profile, as I have before remarked, than by a full face, as in the case of the former.
THE GREATER HOLY ASSEMBLY.
a smoke out of His nose,* * * § and fire out of His mouth devoured ; coals were kindled by it.”
663. “There went up a smoke out of His nose.” In this smoke are included both the fire and the burning coals ; for there is no smoke without fire, neither fire without smoke. Truly all things result ( herefrom : otherwise, are kindled herein) and go forth from His nose.