150. Therefore, whoever builds a building, before starting, should utter by mouth that he does so for the worship of the Holy One, blessed be He, since it is written, "Woe to him that builds his house by unrighteousness" (Yirmeyah 22:13). Then help from heaven rests on it, ON THE HOUSE, and the Holy One, blessed be He, readies His sanctity upon it and calls it peace. This is the meaning of, "And you shall know that your tent is at peace; AND YOU SHALL VISIT YOUR HABITATION, AND MISS (OR: 'SIN') NOTHING" (Iyov 5:24). What is meant by, "and you shall visit your habitation?" It has been explained, yet, "visit" MEANS to visit by mouth when building, NAMELY, TO SAY WITH HIS MOUTH THAT HE BUILDS IT TO SERVE THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. Then it is written, "and sin nothing." Otherwise, the Other Side is ready TO DWELL on his house.

151. This is more so for whoever builds with his wish directed in a different way, in dedicating his house to the other side to be defiled by it. Surely the spirit of defilement rests on that man and he is punished by that house before he dies. Whoever lives in it may come to harm, since the spirit of defilement rests in that abode and harms whoever is in it.

152. You may ask, how is it made known WHETHER THE BUILDER DREW ON IT THE SPIRIT OF DEFILEMENT? If whoever built it came to harm in that house, or any of his household, whether in body or finance, AND ALSO two NEIGHBORS after him WHO DWELT THERE. One should run into the mountain rather than live in it, dwell in an earthen cave rather than live in it.

153. For that reason, the Holy One, blessed be He, took pity on Yisrael, who did not know at all about those houses THEY FOUND IN THE LAND, WHETHER THE SPIRIT OF IMPURITY WAS THERE OR NOT. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, Even if you do not know, I do know and I shall mark them by a plague. If a plague rests in the house, WHICH IS THE OTHER SIDE, behold another powerful plague THAT I SENT THERE to take it out and destroy it. Then, "And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and its timber" (Vayikra 14:45). HE ASKS, Once THE PLAGUE is gone BECAUSE OF THE OTHER PLAGUE THAT BROUGHT IT OUT, why "break down the house," SEEING THAT THE OTHER SIDE HAS ALREADY LEFT? HE ANSWERS, As long as the house stands, it is his, OF THE OTHER SIDE, who can return.