52. Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yosi were walking on the road when they chanced upon a cave in the field. Rabbi Chiya questioned Rabbi Yosi concerning the words: "These are the words of the Covenant...besides the Covenant..." (Devarim 28:69). Why does it say, "the words of the Covenant?" It should have said 'the words of Gvurah.' He said to him: It has been explained that these CURSES IN THE BOOK OF VAYIKRA WERE SAID by Gvurah, and that those IN DEVARIM were said by Moses himself, as we have already learned.

53. Come and behold: the ones as well as the others are the words of the Covenant, for though they were from Gvurah, yet they are the words of the Covenant, since good and evil depend upon them. Good comes from the Righteous, YESOD; evil comes from Judgment - the place of Judgment, Righteousness - NAMELY MALCHUT. Righteous and Righteousness, YESOD AND MALCHUT, are the Covenant and are called 'the Covenant.' Therefore, these words are the words of the Covenant. The Covenant, WHICH IS YESOD AND MALCHUT, is bound together, and hence 'remember' and 'keep,' TIFERET AND MALCHUT, are bound together; 'remember' by day, and 'keep' by night. THEY ARE TOGETHER BY THE SECRET OF THE VERSE, "AND THERE WAS EVENING AND THERE WAS MORNING, ONE DAY" (BERESHEET 1:5). Thus, the Covenant is YESOD AND MALCHUT together, SINCE ZEIR ANPIN IS CONNECTED TO MALCHUT ONLY THROUGH YESOD. It is therefore WRITTEN, "Covenant," since they are indeed the words of the Covenant, THE REPRIMAND IN THE BOOK OF VAYIKRA AND IN THE BOOK OF DEVARIM. Wherever the word "Covenant" is mentioned, it pertains to this place.

54. Rabbi Chiya said: Surely this is so. Hence, Shabbat, which is 'remember' and 'keep,' YESOD AND MALCHUT, is called a "Covenant," as it is written: "Wherefore the children of Yisrael shall keep the Shabbat, to observe the Shabbat throughout their generations, for a perpetual Covenant" (Shemot 31:16). Everything is one and the same. This place, YESOD AND MALCHUT TOGETHER, is uniformly called 'the Covenant.'

55. Come and behold: it is written, "And I will give peace in the land" (Vayikra 26:6). "PEACE" is Yesod, which is peace in the land, household peace, and the peace of the world, SINCE MALCHUT IS CALLED 'LAND,' 'HOUSE' AND 'WORLD.' "...And I will chastise you, even I, seven" (Vayikra 26:28). What is seven? Surely it is righteousness, MALCHUT ON THE SIDE OF JUDGMENT. Assuredly, this is the Covenant, and therefore these are the words of the Covenant.