He who is small is great

210. Oh, Rabbi, oh Rabbi. How new are these matters of the head of the Yeshivah. Praised is he who humbles himself in this world. How great and lofty is he in that world. That is how the head of the Yeshivah began: He who is small is great, and he who is great is small, as it is written: "And Sarah was a hundred year and twenty year and seven years old: these were the years of Sarah's life" (Beresheet 23:1). "Hundred," since it is a large number is written with "year," the least number of years; it was diminished to one. "seven," that is a small number, is increased and made bigger, by writing "seven years," IN THE PLURAL. Come and see that the Holy One, blessed be He, made one great only if he had belittled himself. And THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, belittled only he who is haughty. Praised is the one that humiliates himself in this world. How exultingly great is he in his elevation in that world.

211. While they were talking, they heard the song of the Sea in the most exquisite voice that was ever heard since the sweet voice of chanting was created, as this sweet sound in which it was said. When they finished, "Hashem shall reign forever and ever" (Shemot 15:18). They noticed four images of men in the heavens and one of them was greater and higher above all of them; that greater and loftier of all raised his voice and said, "Thus says Hashem; I remember in your favor, the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride..." (Yirmeyah 2:2). He flew into the firmament and was hidden. And another one rose after him and said, "And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known..." (Yeshayah 42:16). He finished and flew into the firmament and was hidden.