33. Rabbi Chizkiyah was studying with Rabbi Elazar. One night, they rose at midnight to study the Torah and Rabbi Elazar discoursed on the following verse: "In the day of prosperity be joyful...Elohim has made the one as well as the other..." (Kohelet 7:14). "In the day of prosperity be joyful," MEANS THAT when the Holy One, blessed be He, lavishes kindness on the world, a man should go to the marketplace and show himself before everyone. The Chesed of the Holy One, blessed be He, rests upon all, for He shows kindness to everybody and increases it in the world. Therefore, a man should show himself in public, and he should do kindness so that another Chesed FROM ABOVE will rest upon him, as it is written: "In the day of prosperity be joyful." He will indeed be joyful.

34. "But in the day of adversity consider" (Ibid.). It is not written: 'In the day of adversity be sad,' AS IT IS WRITTEN, "IN THE DAY OF PROSPERITY BE JOYFUL," but rather, "in the day of adversity consider," MEANING at the time that Judgment looms over the world, a man should not show himself in the marketplace and should not walk alone. When Judgment looms over the world, it looms over all, and whoever meets THE DESTRUCTIVE ANGEL is sentenced by that Judgment, as it is written: "Sometimes ruin comes for want of justice" (Mishlei 13:23). This is because justice, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, departs from righteousness, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and they do not dwell within one another, AND HAVE NO INFLUENCE on the world. Therefore, IT IS WRITTEN, "consider," NAMELY consider and be vigilant and watchful on every side and know that Judgment abides everywhere. Do not show yourself abroad so that JUDGMENT shall not rest upon you. The reason is that, "Elohim has made the one as well as the other." Thus, at the time that kindness rests upon the world, it rests all over. Also, when Judgment looms over the world, it looms over all. He who chances upon it WILL BE caught.

35. Come and behold: at the time that Judgment looms over the world, many swords, NAMELY LITIGANTS, are suspended from that highest sword. They lift up their heads and see that the highest sword, NAMELY THE SIDE OF JUDGMENT OF MALCHUT, is red and bloody on all sides, THAT IS, WITH JUDGMENTS. Then they decree punishments and all SORTS OF swords are aroused, as it is written: "Every man has his sword upon his thigh" (Shir Hashirim 3:8), and, "With his sword drawn in his hands" (Yehoshua 5:13). All those swords are ready to punish, and whoever meets them is harmed. It is written: "Behold now Your servant has found favor in Your sight and You have magnified Your mercy which You have shown to me in saving my life; I CANNOT ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAIN" (Beresheet 19:19). The reason that HE (LOT) WAS AFRAID TO ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAIN was that Judgment looms over all, in towns, deserts and around the city.