39. RABBI PINCHAS opened the discussion and said: "Hashem is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" (Tehilim 27:1) "Hashem is my light and my salvation," MEANING, as soon as a man has gazed on the supreme light, and the Holy One, blessed be He, has shone on him, he no longer has fear from anyone above or below, as it says, "but Hashem shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you" (Yeshayah 60:2). "Hashem is the stronghold of my life" (Tehilim 27:1); THAT IS, once the Holy One, blessed be He, gives support to man, he has no fear in that world from any prosecutor. And so am I. As soon as I cling to your father and you, I have no fear in this world or the other world.

40. Of you it is written: "Let your father and your mother be glad" (Mishlei 23:25). HE ASKS: Since it is written, "Let your father and your mother be glad," what is the meaning of, "and let her who bore you rejoice" (Ibid.)? It would seem sufficient with the mention of the mother. AND HE ANSWERS: ONLY, "your father," means the Holy One, blessed be He, "and your mother" is the Congregation of Yisrael, WHICH IS MALCHUT. The words, "and let her who bore you rejoice," MEAN she who bore you below, THAT IS, YOUR MOTHER IN THIS WORLD. AND IF SO, Rabbi Shimon, your father, where is his joy - SINCE HE IS NOT EVEN ALLUDED TO IN THIS? AND HE REPLIES: It is because he has a verse of his own, as it is written, "The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice" (Ibid. 24), which refers to the Holy One, blessed be He. "...And he who begets a wise child shall have joy of him..." (Ibid.) is your father below, NAMELY RABBI SHIMON. An alternate explanation: "The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice," is the father below. "...And (Heb. ve, Vav) he who begets a wise child shall have joy of him," is written with an extra Vav. SINCE IT WOULD HAVE SUFFICED TO WRITE, "HE WHO BEGETS...," it refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, above, WHO IS CALLED 'VAV.'