18. "These are the generations of Noah" (Beresheet 6:9). Rabbi Yehuda began his discourse on the verse: "A good man lends with a good grace; he conducts his affairs justly" (Tehilim 112:5). He said that "a good man" refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, who is called 'good', as it is written: "Hashem is good to all" (Tehilim 145:9). And it is also stated that "Hashem is a man of war" (Shemot 15:3). He is gracious and lends to "all" which is Yesod. BECAUSE Yud Hei Vav Hei, WHO IS ZEIR ANPIN, BESTOWS AND LENDS HIS ABUNDANCE OF MOCHIN UPON YESOD to the place that has nothing of its own, WHICH IS FEMALE PRINCIPLE. That place, THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE, is nourished by it, YESOD. The words, "he conducts his affairs justly" refer to the fact that THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE is nourished only according to justice, WHICH IS THE MOCHIN OF THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH, as it is written: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne" (Tehilim 89:15). SO RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH IS THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE, IS NOURISHED BY JUSTICE.
19. A different meaning is that "a good man" signifies the righteous. As it is written: "Say to the righteous, that it shall be well with him (or: that he is good), for they shall eat the fruit of their doings" (Yeshayah 3:10). SO THE RIGHTEOUS ARE CALLED 'GOOD'. Rabbi Yosi said that "A GOOD MAN" alludes to Noah, as it is written: "Noah was a righteous man." Rabbi Yitzchak said that "a good man" alludes to the glory of the Shabbat, REFERRING TO THE MOCHIN OF THE DAY OF SHABBAT, because the text begins with the words: "It is a good thing to give thanks to Hashem" (Tehilim 92:2).
20. Rabbi Chiya said: It all amounts to the same thing, and they all said one thing, that THE RIGHTEOUS produce offspring in the world. HE ALSO ASKS: Who are the offspring of the world? AND HE ANSWERS: They are the souls of the righteous, as they are the fruit of the handiwork of the Holy One, blessed be He.
21. Rabbi Shimon said: When the Holy One, blessed be He, puts on His diadems, He crowns himself from above and from below: above, by the region of absolute depth, WHICH IS ABA AND IMA, and below by the souls of the righteous. The result is that an increment of life from above and below embraces the place of sanctuary on all sides, causing the cistern to become full and the sea to be replenished, thereby providing life to all.