66. Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yosi were walking along the way. When they reached a field they saw a balsam tree on the right side of the road. Rabbi Yosi said, Enveloping smoke is in our eyes. We are not permitted to behold a joyful thing, SUCH AS A BALSAM TREE, since the day the Temple was destroyed.
67. He opened the discussion with, "The earth is Hashem's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell in it" (Tehilim 24:1). HE ASKS, Having said, "The earth is Hashem's, and the fullness thereof," why REITERATE WITH "the world, and they that dwell in it?" HE ANSWERS, This is what is meant. "The earth is Hashem's, and the fullness thereof" refers to the holy earth called the land of the living. "The world, and they that dwell in it" refers to other lands, as it is written, "And He will judge the world in righteousness" (Tehilim 9:9), since the world depends on righteousness. It all amounts to the same thing.
68. Rabbi Chiya said, "The earth is Hashem's, and the fullness thereof." What are that specific land, MALCHUT, and the fullness thereof? HE ANSWERS, These are the souls of the righteous IN MALCHUT. In "the world, and they that dwell in it," the world is the lower earth IN THIS WORLD "and they that dwell in it" are people. Rabbi Yosi said, If this is so THAT THE EARTH MEANS MALCHUT, how are we to explain, "For He had founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods" (Tehilim 24:2)? He said to him, Assuredly it is so, since the land of the living, MALCHUT, "He had founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods." For they all, ALL THE MOCHIN, come from that supernal river that comes out and flows from Eden, WHICH IS BINAH, AND MALCHUT is established by them so as to be crowned by the Holy King and to nourish the worlds.
69. "Who shall ascend into the mountain of Hashem...? He that has clean hands, and a pure heart, who has not taken My name (lit. Nefesh) in vain" (Ibid. 3-4). HE ASKS, It is spelled 'his Nefesh,' yet is read "My Nefesh." Why are My Nefesh and his Nefesh MENTIONED IN THE VERSE? HE ANSWERS, It is all the same thing, as it is written, "Hashem Elohim has sworn by His Nefesh" (Amos 6:8), "that shall do according to that which is in My heart and in My Nefesh" (I Shmuel 2:35). MY NEFESH IS MALCHUT. King David united with that heart and Nefesh, NAMELY WITH MALCHUT. Hence it says, "who has not taken his Nefesh in vain."