The mouth of Zeir Anpin

Synopsis

We read that good and evil and life and death depend on the lips of Zeir Anpin. When the lips speak all the watchers awaken to decree punishments. Rabbi Shimon explains what is meant by a 'watcher.' We learn that when words come out of the mouth of Zeir Anpin they illuminate 18,000 worlds.

Beard Daniel Death Death and the Afterlife Evil Hair Lily Lips Red

176. These hairs OF THE BEARD do not cover the lips, and the lips are wholly red as a lily, as it is written, "his lips like lilies" (Shir Hashirim 5:13). The lips whisper Gvurah and whisper Chochmah. Good and evil depend on these lips, and life and death. From these lips come out those who awaken, since when these lips whisper they all awaken to decree punishments throughout the courts that are called watchers, as it is written, "This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence..." (Daniel 4:14).

176. אִלֵּין שַׂעְרֵי לָא חַפְיָין עַל שִׂפְוָון, וְשִׂפְוָון כֻּלְּהוּ סוּמָקִין כְּוַורְדָא. דִּכְתִיב, שִׂפְתוֹתָיו שׁוֹשַׁנִּים. שִׂפְוָון מְרַחְשָׁן גְּבוּרָה, מְרַחְשָׁן חָכְמְתָא. בְּאִינּוּן שִׂפְוָון תַּלְיָין טַב וּבִישׁ, חַיֵּי וּמוֹתָא. מֵאִלֵּין שִׂפְוָון תַּלְיָין מָארֵיהוֹן דְּאַתְעָרוּתָא, דְּכַד מְרַחֲשִׁין אִלֵּין שִׂפְוָון, מִתְעָרִין כֺּלָּא לְמִגְזַר דִּינָא, בְּכָל בָּתֵּי דִּינִין, דְּאִקְרוּן עִירִין. דִּכְתִיב, בִּגְזֵרַת עִירִין פִּתְגָּמָא וּבְמֵאמַר וְגוֹ.'

Book of Agadah Judgment Mercy Punishment Samuel

177. HE ASKS, What is a watcher (Heb. ir)? HE ANSWERS, In the book of Agadah HE EXPLAINED that it is like in the words, "become your enemy (Heb. ar)" (I Shmuel 28:16). For Judgments rouse against those who are not beloved above, which is why those that arouse TO PUNISH are THEIR enemies, AND ARE CALLED 'WATCHERS.' Nevertheless, PUNISHMENT IS DECREED in two ways, with Mercy or with Judgment. They are therefore called a watcher (enemy) and a holy one, Judgment and Mercy, NAMELY, "THIS MATTER IS BY THE DECREE OF THE WATCHERS, AND THE SENTENCE BY THE WORDS OF THE HOLY ONES," WHERE A WATCHER ALLUDES TO JUDGMENT AND HOLY ONES TO MERCY.

177. מַאי עִיר. בְּסִפְרָא דְּאַגַדְתָּא, כד"א, וַיְהִי עָרֶךָ. דְּמִתְעֲרִין דִּינִין לְאִינּוּן דְּלָא אִתְרְחִימוּ לְעֵילָּא, בג"כ מִתְעָרִין אִלֵּין דְּאִינּוּן מָארֵי דְּבָבוּ, ועכ"ד בִּתְרֵי גְּוָונֵי בְּרַחֲמֵי וְדִינָא, וע"ד אִקְרוּן עִיר וְקַדִּישׁ דִּינָא וְרַחֲמֵי.

Air Lips Prophets

178. וּבְאִלֵּין שִׂפְוָון, אִתְחֲזֵי פּוּמָא כַּד אִתְפְּתַח. רוּחָא דְּנָפִיק מִן פּוּמָא, בֵּיהּ מִתְלַבְּשִּׁין כַּמָה אֲלַף וְרִבְבָן. וְכַד אִתְפְּשַּׁט, מִתְלַבְּשִּׁין בֵּיהּ נְבִיאָן מְהֵימְנֵי. וְכֻלְּהוּ פֶּה יְיָ' אִקְרוּן. כַּד מִלִּין נָפְקִין מִן פּוּמָא, וּמִתְרַחֲשִׁין בְּשִׂפְוָון, מִתְנַהֲרִין לְכֻלְּהוּ תִּמְנֵי סָרֵי אַלְפִין עָלְמִין, עַד דְּמִתְקַטְּרִין כֻּלְּהוּ כַּחֲדָא, בְּתַמְנֵיסָר אוֹרְחִין וּשְׁבִילִין, דְּאִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָן.

Colors Fire Food Job Red Water White

179. Everyone awaits this mouth with the great speaking tongue with the unification of polishing and adornment. Of this it is written, "His mouth (lit. 'palate') is most sweet" (Shir Hashirim 5:16). Surely it is most sweet. What is his palate? It is as in the verse, "the palate tastes food" (Iyov 34:3). "And he is altogether lovely" (Shir Hashirim 5:16), NAMELY fire and water. For water and fire are formed and are pretty AND LOVELY in their shape, THAT IS, THEY ARE LOVELY TO BEHOLD, because the colors RED AND WHITE join together, THAT IS, THE BEAUTY APPEARS FROM THE BLENDING OF WHITE AND RED TOGETHER.

179. וְכֺלָּא מְחַכָּאן לְפוּמָא דָּא, בְּלִישָׁן מְמַלֵּל רַבְרְבָן בְּקִיטְרָא דְּטִיהֲרָא בְּעוּטְרָא. וע"ד כְּתִיב, חִכּוֹ מַמְתַּקִּים, מַמְתַּקִּים וַדַּאי. מַאי חִכּוֹ. כד"א, וְחֵיךְ יִטְעַם לֶאֱכוֹל. וְכֻלּוֹ מַחֲמַדִּים, אֵשׁ וּמַיִם. אֶשָּׁא וּמַיָיא מִתְתַּקְנָן, וְיָאָן בְּצִיּיוּרוֹי, דְּהָא גְּוָונֵי מִתְחַבְּרָן כַּחֲדָא.