My LORD’s BibleThe Greater Holy Assembly (Idra Rabba Qadisha) 31
607THE eyes of the head (of Microprosopus) are diverse from all other eyes. There is a shadowy darkness cast by the eyebrows which is (as if it were) painted above the eyes, whence all eyes are overshadowed with a dark shade.
609And in both (the eyebrows) are contained seven hundred times a thousand lords of inspection who reside above the eyelids.
610In the eyelids radiate one thousand four hundred myriads (of hairs), which adhere to the edges and form the eyelashes; and far above these is the inspection of the eye of the Ancient of Days.
611And as often as those eyelids (of Microprosopus) are raised, the same eye (i.e., that of Macroprosopus) appeareth, just as when the eyes of any man are opened when he awaketh from sleep.
612And (the eyes of Microprosopus) behold the open eye (of Macroprosopus shining down upon them), and they are rendered brilliant with a certain brilliant whiteness of the good eye (i.e., that of Macroprosopus, because in Him “all is right”—i.e., good—and there is no left).
613Like as it is written, Cant. v. 12: “Washed with milk.” What is “with milk?” With this excellent primal whiteness.
615Like as it is written, Ps. xliv. 23: “Awake; why sleepest Thou, O Tetragrammaton? Arise.”
616And truly as often as His eyes are not open, all the lords of judgments subdue the Israelites, and the other nations have dominion over them.
617But whensoever He openeth His eyes, these are illuminated from the good eye (of Macroprosopus), and mercy is over Israel; and His eye turneth around and executeth vengeance upon the other nations.
618This is that same which is written, Ps. xxxv. 23: “Awake, and arise.” “Awake!” and (Thine eye) shall be illuminated with that whiteness. “Arise!” so that it may exercise judgment upon those who have overcome them.
620And this eye (otherwise, this whiteness) is not uncovered except when it is looked upon by the good eye, and then all those colours are covered (otherwise, bathed) with this whiteness of the rays.
621From those colours, when they are uncovered, go forth seven eyes of Providence, which issue from the black of the eye.
622This is that which is said, Zach. iii. 9: “Upon one stone seven eyes.”
623What is the “one stone?” The black of the eye.
624From the red go forth seven emissaries, who deflect towards the left side, and they flame with fire, which is toward the north side, and they are combined, so that they may be expanded into the world for the purpose of uncovering the ways of sinners.
625This is that which is written, Zach. iv. 10: “Those seven are the eyes of Tetragrammaton going forth throughout the whole earth.”
626From the yellow go forth seven pure splendours (otherwise lights), which are turned towards the south side, and they are combined so that they may be extended into the world, towards those ways which are necessary to be uncovered (otherwise towards those deeds, &c.).
627Like as it is written, Job xxxiv. 21: “Because His eyes are upon the ways of man.” And when they are illuminated with that whiteness, then they behold all the lords of truth, in order to do good unto the world because of them; and every glance (of those eyes) is benevolent towards Israel.
628But with the red colour He beholdeth those who are bound; which is intimated in these words, Exod. iii. 7: “In seeing have I seen;” “In seeing,” for the purpose of doing good unto them; “I have seen,” that by vindicating them I may deliver them from their afflictors.
629And therefore is it written, Ps. xliv. 24: “Awake: wherefore sleepest Thou, O Tetragrammaton? Arise! forsake us not for ever.” “Awake and arise.” There are two inspections, two openings, two good things; there is mercy, there is also vengeance.
630The first colour is red, hidden and inclosed within red; in comparison with it, all other reds do not seem to be (red).
631Around this red goeth a certain black thread (of colour), and surroundeth it.
632This second colour is black, like that stone which goeth forth from the abyss once in a thousand years into the great sea.
634And this stone goeth forth, and is whirled onward in the current of the sea, and goeth forth thence; and this is so great a blackness that beside it all other blacknesses are as nought (otherwise, now it is withdrawn because all the other paths are hidden and enshrouded by it).
635And such is the blackness of the black (part of) the eye, which includeth and concealeth all the remaining blacknesses; and about that blackness there is found a certain red thread (of colour) which surroundeth that blackness.
636The third colour is the yellow of all yellows, which includeth and concealeth all other yellows, and in the circumference of that yellow there whirl around two threads (of colour), a red thread on the one direction, and a black thread in another direction; and they surround that yellow colour.
637But when that white brilliance whirleth around it, and the eye flameth with that white brilliance, all those other colours are not at rest, and are submerged in the lowest depths thereof; the red, the yellow, and the black are not seen only that white brilliance alone; which receiveth its light from Him, even from the Ancient of Days.
638And from that (white brilliance) all the inferiors shine, neither is any colour seen save that white brilliance alone. And therefore are all the lords of redness and blackness, which are as it were twin (colours) displaced.
639This is the same which is written, Cant. iv. 2: “Which go up from the washing, which are all twins.”
640What is this, “From the washing?” From that white brilliance of the excellent holy eye; for all are twins, the one (colour) is as the other.
641But truly doth not he (the author of the Canticles) say that the teeth are each in turn like a shorn flock; and thou sayest that all these are twins?
642Nevertheless, the sense is that this whiteness of them is as that whiteness of the eyes (of Microprosopus) when they are made brilliant by the white brilliance of the supernal eye (of Macroprosopus).
643And the just are about to understand and behold that thing in the Spirit of Wisdom.
644Like as it is written, Isa. lii. 8: “Because they shall see eye to eye.” When? “When Tetragrammaton shall bring again Zion.”
645Also it is written, Num. xiv. 14: “By whom Thou, O Tetragrammaton! art seen eye to eye:” and then the opening of the eyes is towards good.
646For there is an opening of the eyes toward good. and there is also another (opening of the eyes) toward evil.
647Toward good, like as it is written, Dan. ix. 18: “Open Thine eyes and behold our desolations, and the city over which Thy name hath been pronounced. Here it is toward good.
648But toward evil, like as it is written, Isa. xxxiii. 20: “Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed.” Here truly it is toward good and toward evil, because the one existeth not without the other.
649We have learned it in the “Book of Concealed Mystery.” What is this? “Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation.” Is not Jerusalem therefore a quiet habitation? Also it is written, Isa. i. 21: “Justice dwelt therein.” But in the place wherein justice is found there is not rest, neither is it at peace (otherwise: In the place wherein judgment dwelleth and is found, this justice is not rest, &c.).
650For verily this is the true interpretation: “Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation” (is thus to be explained). The habitation is said to be quiet, in respect of the Ancient of Days, who looketh upon those eyes (of Microprosopus).
651For truly His eye is quiet and tranquil; the eye of mercy, the eye which altereth not from this aspect unto any other aspect.
652And therefore is it written OINK (instead of OINIK) “They shall behold Thine eye:” not Thine eyes, (seeing OINK is written) without the second I, Yod.
653But how cometh it that it is said Jerusalem, and not Zion? It is properly thus said for the purpose of subjugating judgment which was found therein, and for exciting mercy upon it.
654Also have we learned this. It is written, Deut. xi. 12: “The eyes of Tetragrammaton thy God are upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.” This is that which is written: “Justice dwelt therein;” because therein are found many most severe judgments, as in all other instances.
655But in the time to come there shall be found therein one eye of mercy (namely), the eye of the Ancient of Days.
656This is that which is intimated, Isa. liv. 7: “But with great mercies will I gather thee.”
657Where, because it is said “with mercies,” what is (the meaning of the adjective) “great” (used herewith): Assuredly because mercy is duplicated, (namely) the mercy of the Ancient of Days (Macroprosopus), which is called “great mercies.”
659This have we learned. In those eyes (of Microprosopus), and in the two colours of them—namely, in the red and in the black—there are said to abide two tears; and when He, even the Holy of the Holy Ones, desireth to have mercy upon the Israelites, then He sendeth down those two tears so that they may grow sweet in the (waters of the) great sea.
660The great sea, which is that of excellent wisdom, so that in that stream (otherwise, white brilliance) and in that fountain they may be cleansed; and they go forth from the great sea, and there is mercy upon the Israelites.