"For the work of a man shall He pay back to him ..."

Synopsis

Rabbi Chiya addresses the problem of why some righteous individuals enjoy prosperity, good health, and happiness, while others endure terrible suffering. The mystery revealed to explain this emphasizes the crucial role of mazal (lit. 'fortune, luck'). Whether sinful or righteous, all individuals shall suffer who receive their souls from the Nukva (moon) during the period when she is defective. God compensates those righteous who suffer in this world, by ensuring their merit in the World to Come; their suffering in this world is the result of their souls' misfortune. While we may endeavor to reason why there is such disparity in the fortunes of men, Kabbalah explains that a righteous soul actually chooses the moment of birth and the physical body into which it will incarnate. The righteous will often purposely choose a life of suffering in order to help correct the sins of the generation, thus preventing great judgment and destruction. This section underscores the importance of the strength of the soul of the righteous. God's judgment rests on this strength, and not on physical or material qualities.

Relevance

The physical body is of the same shape and structure in all human beings. However, the internal Vessel - a man's Desire to Receive - is of different measure in each person. For example, a person endowed with a large Vessel may have the power to accumulate enormous wealth. Yet on a purely physical level, there is no distinguishing trait that hints at a wealthy man's financial capabilities and business acumen. In similar fashion, the soul of a single righteous individual may be far greater than millions of sinful people of the same generation. The suffering endured by this lone righteous individual can therefore balance all the negativity generated by the actions of others. By connecting with the souls of the righteous, whose Light shines so radiantly through this passage, we can help correct the effects of our own negative actions; moreover, our own Vessel is expanded, so that our efforts toward righteousness compensate for the sins of others.

Creation Destruction Job Judgment Mercy Shadai Wickedness

25. Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion with the verse, "Therefore listen to me you men of understanding: Far be it from El to do wickedness and from Shadai to commit iniquity. For the work of a man shall He pay back to him, and according to his ways will He cause every man to receive his due" (Iyov 34:10). Come and behold, when the Holy One, blessed be He, created the world, He created it by Judgment, and it exists upon Judgment. All worldly affairs exist according to the principles of Judgment. Nevertheless, to support the world and prevent its destruction, the Holy One, blessed be He, spreads Mercy over it. This Mercy tempers Judgment, so that it does not put an end to the world. Thus, the world acts according to Mercy, and endures due to it.

25. רִבִּי חִיָּיא פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, לָכֵן אַנְשֵׁי לֵבָב שִׁמְעוּ לִי חָלִלָה לָאֵל מֵרֶשַׁע וְשַׁדַּי מֵעָוֶל. כִּי פֹעַל אָדָם יְשַׁלֶּם לוֹ וּכְאֹרַח אִישׁ יַמְצִאֶנּוּ. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּד בָּרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עַלְמָא, עֲבַד לֵיהּ עַל דִּינָא, וְעַל דִּינָא אִתְקַיַּים, וְכָל עוֹבָדִין דְּעַלְמָא, אִינוּן קָיְימִין בְּדִינָא, בַּר דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּגִין לְקַיְימָא עַלְמָא וְלָא יִתְאֲבֵיד, פָּרֵישׂ עֲלֵיהּ רַחֲמֵי, וְאִינוּן רַחֲמֵי מְעַכְּבֵי לְדִינָא, דְּלָא יִשְׁתְּצֵי עַלְמָא, וְעַל רַחֲמֵי אִתְנַהֵיג עַלְמָא, וְאִתְקַיַּים בְּגִינֵיהּ.

Body Judges Judgment Love Righteous Soul, The

26. And if you say that the Holy One, blessed be He, judges man without justice, we have learned that when Judgment prevails on man and he is righteous, it is because of the love of the Holy One, blessed be He. As we have learned, when the Holy One, blessed be He, feels pity for a man, it is to bring the man closer to Him. The Holy One, blessed be He, breaks the body so as to give the soul total control. Then man can come closer to Him with love, as is fitting, and the soul controls man while his body is weakened!

26. וְאִי תֵימָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבֵיד דִּינָא בְּבַר נָשׁ בְּלָא דִינָא, הָא אִתְּמָר, דְּכַד דִּינָא שַׁרְיָא עֲלֵיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ, כַּד אִיהוּ זַכָּאָה, בְּגִין רְחִימוּתָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בֵּיהּ אִיהִי, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר, דְּהָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא רְחֵים עֲלֵיהּ בִּרְחִימוּ, לְקָרְבָא לֵיהּ לְגַבֵּיהּ, מְתַבַּר גּוּפָא, בְּגִין לְשַׁלְטָאָה נִשְׁמָתָא, וּכְדֵין אִתְקְרֵיב בַּר נָשׁ לְגַבֵּיהּ בִּרְחִימוּ, כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת. וְנִשְׁמָתָא שָׁלְטָא, וְגוּפָא אִתְחַלָּשׁ.

Body Merit Righteous Soul, The World to Come, The

27. וּבַעְיָא גּוּפָא חוּלְשָׁא, וְנַפְשָׁא תַּקִּיפָא, דְּאִתְתַּקַּף בִּתְקִיפוּ, וּכְדֵין אִיהוּ רְחִימָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. כְּמָה דַאֲמָרוּ חַבְרַיָיא, יְהַב קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לַצַּדִּיק צַעֲרָא בְּעַלְמָא דֵין, בְּגִין לְמִזְכֵּי לֵיהּ לְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי.

Alms Body Face Hatred Punishment Righteous Sin Soul, The Suffering World to Come, The

28. When the soul is weak and the body strong, man is hated by the Holy One, blessed be He, who does not care for him. Therefore, He inflicts no suffering on him in this world. His life runs smoothly and perfectly, for if this man gives alms or performs a kindness, the Holy One, blessed be He, rewards him in this world so that he will have no portion in the World to Come. This is why Unkelos translated the verse, "And He repays them that hate Him to their face" (Devarim 7:10) as 'And He repays them that Hate him in this world.' Thus, the righteous person, who always experiences pain, is beloved by the Holy One, blessed be He. This is true only if he is found to have committed no sin that merits punishment.

28. וְכַד נִשְׁמָתָא חָלְשָׁא, וְגוּפָא תַקִיפָא, אִיהוּ שָׂנְאֵיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּלָא אִתְרְעֵי בֵּיהּ, לָא יָהֵיב לֵיהּ צַעֲרָא בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, אֶלָּא אוֹרְחוֹי מִתְתַּקְנָן, וְהוּא בִּשְׁלִימוּ יַתִּיר, בְּגִין דְּאִי עָבַד צְדָקָה, אוֹ טִיבוּ, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְשַׁלֵּם לֵיהּ אַגְרֵיהּ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, וְלָא יֶהֱוֵי לֵיהּ חוּלַק בְּהַהוּא עַלְמָא, וְדָא הוּא דְּתִרְגֵּם אוּנְקְלוּס וּמְשַׁלֵּם לְשׂוֹנְאָיו וגו,' וּמְשַׁלֵּם לְשַׂנְאוֹהִי טַבְוָון דְּאִינוּן וגו,' וּבְגִין כָּך הַהוּא זַכָּאָה דְּאִתְבַּר תָּדִיר, אִיהוּ רְחִימָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְהַנֵּי מִילֵי, כַּד בָּדַק וְלָא אַשְׁכַּח חוֹבָא בִּידֵיהּ, דְּאִתְעַנַּשׁ עֲלֵיהּ.

Hands Jacob Joseph Righteous Shechinah Suffering

29. There are several aspects to this matter. First, we see that the Shechinah does not dwell in a place of sorrow, but only in a place of joy. If a place has no joy, the Shechinah will not abide there. This is echoed in the verse, "But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of Hashem came upon him" (II Melachim 3:15); for assuredly the Shechinah does not dwell in a place of sadness. From where do we derive this principle? We learn this from Jacob, from whom the Shechinah departed during the time he mourned Joseph. When joy came upon him with the good news about Joseph, immediately, "the spirit of Jacob their father revived" (Beresheet 45:27). THERE IS A MYSTERY HERE, for where is joy in a righteous man who is broken by troubles and is weak and suffering? Surely he must be saddened with no joy at all.

29. הָכָא אִית לְאִסְתַּכָּלָא בְּכַמָּה סִטְרִין, בְּכַמָּה סִטְרִין, חַד, דְּהָא חָמִינָן דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא לָא שַׁרְיָא בַּאֲתַר עֲצִיבוּ, אֶלָּא בַּאֲתַר דְּאִית בֵּיהּ חֶדְוָה, אִי חֶדְוָה לֵית בֵּיהּ, לָא שַׁרְיָא שְׁכִינְתָּא בְּהַהוּא אֲתַר, כד"א וְעַתָּה קְחוּ לִי מְנַגֵּן וְהָיָה כְנַגֵּן הַמְנַגֵּן וַתְּהִי עָלָיו רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים, דְּהָא שְׁכִינְתָּא, וַדַּאי לָא שַׁרְיָא בַּאֲתַר עֲצִיבוּ. מְנָלָן, מִיַּעֲקֹב, דִּבְגִין דַּהֲוָה עָצִיב עֲלֵיהּ דְּיוֹסֵף, אִסְתַּלְקַת שְׁכִינְתָּא מִנֵּיהּ, כֵּיוָן דְּאָתָא לֵיהּ חֶדְוָה דִּבְשׂוֹרָה דְיוֹסֵף, מִיָּד וַתְּחִי רוּחַ יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם. הָכָא בְּהַאי זַכָּאָה דְּאִתָּבַר, כֵּיוָן דְּאִיהוּ חֲלָשָׁא. וְאִתָּבַר בְּמַכְאוֹבִין, אָן הוּא חֶדְוָה, דְּהָא אִיהוּ בַּעֲצִיבוּ, וְלֵית עִמֵּיהּ חֶדְוָה כְּלָל.

Disease Righteous Suffering

30. וְחַד, דְּהָא חָמִינָן, כַּמָּה רְחִימִין הֲווֹ צַדִּיקַיָא קַמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְלָא אִתָּבְרוּ בְּמַרְעִין, וְלָא בְּמַכְאוֹבִין, וְלָא אִתְחַלַּשׁ גּוּפָא דִלְהוֹן לְעָלְמִין, אַמַּאי לָאו אִלֵּין כְּאִלֵּין, דְּאִלֵּין אִתָּבְרוּ, וְאִלֵּין קָיְימֵי בְּגוּפַיְיהוּ, כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

Righteous Suffering

31. וְא"ת, דְּהָא אִלֵּין דְּקָיְימוּ בְּקִיָּמָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, בְּגִין דְּאִינוּן צַדִּיקֵי בְּנֵי צַדִּיקֵי אִינְהוּ, כְּמָה דְאוֹקְמוּהָ, וְאִלֵּין אָחֳרָנִין, צַדִּיקֵי, וְלָאו בְּנֵי צַדִּיקֵי, הָא קָא חָמִינָן, צַדִּיקֵי בְּנֵי צַדִּיקֵי, דְּהָא אֲבוֹי דְּדֵין זַכָּאָה בַּר זַכָּאָה, וְאִיהוּ זַכָּאָה, אַמַּאי אִתָּבַר גּוּפֵיהּ בְּמַכְאוֹבִין, וְכָל יוֹמוֹי בְּצַעֲרָא.

Astrology Job Judgment Moon Nukva Prayer Soul, The Sun Wicked Wickedness Zeir Anpin

32. There is a mystery here, for all the works of the Holy One, blessed be He, are according to Truth and Justice. "For the work of a man shall he pay back to him, and according to his ways will he cause to befall every man" (Iyov 34:11). I found in ancient books a mystery, and another mystery REVEALED within it - thus, one mystery which is two SECRETS. There are times when the moon, THE NUKVA, is defective and under Judgment, and the sun, ZEIR ANPIN, is hidden from her. She releases souls to give to men, which she first gathered FROM ZEIR ANPIN AT ANY TIME. THEREFORE, she releases THOSE SOULS, EVEN AT A DEFECTIVE TIME, when she is under Judgment. Whoever receives such a soul will always be in want and poverty, and broken under Judgment throughout all his life - be he just or wicked. Only prayer annuls all judgmental sentences. A MAN can avert them through prayer.

32. אֶלָּא הָכָא רָזָא אִיהוּ, דְּהָא כָּל עוֹבָדוֹי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּקְשׁוֹט וּזְכוּ כִּי פֹעַל אָדָם יְשַׁלֶּם לוֹ וּכְאֹרַח אִישׁ יַמְצִיאֶנּוּ. אַשְׁכַּחְנָא בְּסִפְרֵי קַדְמָאֵי, רָזָא חָדָא, וּלְגַבֵּיהּ רָזָא אָחֳרָא, חַד דְּאִיהוּ תְּרֵין, דְּהָא אִית זִמְנִין, דְּסִיהֲרָא אִיהִי בִּפְגִימוּ, וְשַׁרְיָא בְּדִינָא, וְשִׁמְשָׁא לָא אִשְׁתַּכַּח גַּבָּה, וּבְכָל זִמְנָא וּבְכָל שַׁעְתָּא, אִית לָהּ לַאֲפָקָא נִשְׁמָתִין בִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא, כְּמָה דְלָקְטָא בְקַדְמֵיתָא, וַאֲפֵיקַת לוֹן הַשְׁתָּא, בְּזִמְנָא דְאִיהִי קָיְימָא בְּדִינָא, הַאי מַאן דְּנָקִיט לָהּ בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא, לֶיהֱוֵי תָּדִיר בִּגְרִעוּתָא, וּמִסְכֵּנוּתָא אָזְלָא לְגַבֵּיהּ, וְאִתָּבַר תָּדִיר בְּדִינָא, כָּל יוֹמוֹי דְבַר נָשׁ, בֵּין חַיָּיבָא, בֵּין זַכָּאָה, בַּר דִּצְלוֹתָא, בָּטֵיל כָּל גִּזְרֵי דִינִין, וְיָכֵיל לְסַלְקָא בִּצְלוֹתָא.

Body Eden Flow Grades Nukva Rivers Soul, The

33. וְהַהוּא זִמְנָא דְּקָיְימָא הַהוּא דַרְגָּא בִּשְׁלִימוּ, וְהַהוּא נָהָר דְּנָגֵיד וְנָפֵיק אִשְׁתַּמַּשׁ בָּהּ, כְּדֵין הַהוּא נִשְׁמָתָא, דְּנָפְקַת וְאִתְדַּבְּקַת בֵּיהּ בְּהַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ, הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ אִשְׁתַּלֵּים בְּכֹלָּא, בְּעוֹתְרָא, בִּבְנִין, בִּשְׁלִימוּ דְּגוּפָא.

Astrology Constellation Grades Mazal Merit Nukva

34. וְכֹלָּא בְּגִין הַהוּא מַזָּלָא, דְּנָגֵיד וְנָפֵיק, וְאִתְחַבַּר בְּהַהוּא דַרְגָּא, לְאִשְׁתַּלָּמָא בֵּיהּ, וּלְאִתְבָּרְכָא מִנֵּיהּ, וְעַל דָּא, כֹּלָּא בְּמַזָּלָא תַּלְיָא מִלְּתָא. וְעַל דָּא תָּנִינָן, בָּנֵי חַיֵּי וּמְזוֹנֵי, לָאו בִּזְכוּתָא תַּלְיָא מִלְּתָא, אֶלָּא בְּמַזָּלָא תַּלְיָא מִלְּתָא, דְּהָא בִּזְכוּתָא לָאו אִיהוּ, אֶלָּא עַד דְּאִתְמַלְּיָא וְאִתְנְהֵיר מִן מַזָּלָא.

Compassion Nefesh (Soul) Nukva Righteous Soul (Nefesh) Soul, The Suffering World to Come, The

35. וּבְגִין כָּךְ, כָּל אִינוּן דְּאִתָּבְרוּ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, וְאִינוּן זַכָּאי קְשׁוֹט, כֻּלְּהוּ אִתָּבְרוּ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, וְאִתְדָּנוּ בְּדִינָא, מ"ט, בְּגִין דְּהַהִיא נַפְשָׁא גָּרְמָא לְהוֹ, וְעַל דָּא, חָיֵיס עֲלַיְיהוּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי.

Body Deeds Merit Nefesh (Soul) Purification Righteous Sin Soul (Nefesh) Soul, The Suffering World to Come, The

36. Rabbi Elazar said that the Holy One, blessed be He, does everything according to Justice. IF HE BRINGS SUFFERING ON A RIGHTEOUS MAN, HE DOES SO to purify that soul (Nefesh) and bring it to the World to Come, for all the deeds of the Holy One, blessed be He, are true and just. To remove from the soul the filth it accumulated in this world, the body is crushed and the soul cleansed. Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, brings pain to the just man, so that he will be cleansed from all sins and thereby merit life in the World to Come. As it is written, "Hashem tries the righteous" (Tehilim 11:5), as we have already learned.

36. רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר, כָּל מַה דְּעָבֵיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּדִינָא אִיהוּ, בְּגִין לְדַּכָּאָה לְהַהִיא נַפְשָׁא, לְאַיְיתָאָה לָהּ לְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי, דְּכָל עוֹבָדוֹי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אִינוּן בְּדִינָא וּקְשׁוֹט, וּבְגִין לְאַעֲבָרָא מִנֵּיהּ הַהוּא זוּהֲמָא, דְּקַבֵּילַת בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, וְע"ד אִתָּבַר הַהוּא גּוּפָא וְאִתְדְּכִיאַת נַפְשָׁא, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבֵיד לְהַהוּא זַכָּאָה, דְּיִסְבּוֹל יִסּוּרִין וּמַכְאוֹבִין בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, וְיִתְנְקֵי מִכֹּלָּא וְיִזְכֶּה לְחַיֵּי עָלְמָא. וְעַל דָּא כְתִיב יי' צַדִּיק יִבְחָן וַדַּאי וְהָא אִתְּמָר.