בְּרַם, כְּגוֹן דָּא צָרִיךְ לְאוֹדוֹעֵי כְּלָל גָּדוֹל: כִּי כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּצָּחוֹן לְנַצֵּחַ דָּבָר גַּשְׁמִי, כְּגוֹן: שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים הַמִּתְאַבְּקִים זֶה עִם זֶה לְהַפִּיל זֶה אֶת זֶה, הִנֵּה, אִם הָאֶחָד הוּא בְּעַצְלוּת וּכְבֵדוּת – יְנוּצַּח בְּקַל וְיִפּוֹל גַּם אִם הוּא גִּבּוֹר יוֹתֵר מֵחֲבֵירוֹ, כָּכָה מַמָּשׁ בְּנִצְחוֹן הַיֵּצֶר, אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְנַצְּחוֹ בְּעַצְלוּת וּכְבֵדוּת – הַנִּמְשָׁכוֹת מֵעַצְבוּת וְטִמְטוּם הַלֵּב כָּאֶבֶן, כִּי אִם, בִּזְרִיזוּת – הַנִּמְשֶׁכֶת מִשִּׂמְחָה וּפְתִיחַת הַלֵּב, וְטָהֳרָתוֹ מִכָּל נִדְנוּד דְּאָגָה וָעֶצֶב בָּעוֹלָם.
Truly this should be made known as a cardinal principle, that as with a victory over a physical obstacle, such as in the case of two individuals who are wrestling with each other, each striving to throw the other—if one is lazy and sluggish he will easily be defeated and thrown, even though he be stronger than the other, exactly so is it in the conquest of one’s evil nature; it is impossible to conquer it with laziness and heaviness, which originate in sadness and in a heart that is dulled like a stone, but rather with alacrity which derives from joy and from a heart that is free and cleansed from any trace of worry and sadness in the world.
וּמַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב: ״בְּכָל עֶצֶב יִהְיֶה מוֹתָר״, פֵּירוּשׁ, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה אֵיזֶה יִתְרוֹן וּמַעֲלָה מִזֶּה, הִנֵּה אַדְּרַבָּה, מִלָּשׁוֹן זֶה מַשְׁמַע, שֶׁהָעֶצֶב מִצַּד עַצְמוֹ אֵין בּוֹ מַעֲלָה, רַק, שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ וְיָבֹא מִמֶּנּוּ אֵיזֶה יִתְרוֹן, וְהַיְינוּ – הַשִּׂמְחָה הָאֲמִיתִּית בַּה׳ אֱלֹהָיו, הַבָּאָה אַחַר הָעֶצֶב הָאֲמִיתִּי לְעִתִּים מְזוּמָּנִים עַל עֲוֹנוֹתָיו בְּמַר נַפְשׁוֹ וְלֵב נִשְׁבָּר, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי זֶה, נִשְׁבְּרָה רוּחַ הַטּוּמְאָה וְסִטְרָא אָחֳרָא וּמְחִיצָה שֶׁל בַּרְזֶל הַמַּפְסֶקֶת בֵּינוֹ לְאָבִיו שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּזֹּהַר עַל פָּסוּק: ״רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרָה, לֵב נִשְׁבָּר וְגוֹ׳״, וַאֲזַי יְקוּיַּם בּוֹ רֵישֵׁיהּ דִּקְרָא: ״תַּשְׁמִיעֵנִי שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה וְגוֹ׳, הָשִׁיבָה לִי שְׂשׂוֹן יִשְׁעֶךָ, וְרוּחַ נְדִיבָה וְגוֹ׳״.
As for what is written, “In every sadness there is profit,” which means that some profit and advantage would be derived from it, the phrase, on the contrary, indicates that sadness in itself has no virtue, except that some profit is derived and experienced from it, namely, the true joy in the L–rd G–d which follows from genuine anguish over one’s sins at propitious moments with bitterness of soul and a broken heart. For thereby the spirit of impurity and of the sitra achara is broken, as also the iron wall that separates him from his Father in Heaven, as is commented in the Zohar on the verse, “A broken and a contrite heart, G–d, You will not disdain”; then will be fulfilled in him the preceding verses: “Let me hear joy and gladness…. Restore to me the joy of Your deliverance, and uphold me with a spirit of magnanimity.”
וְזֶהוּ טַעַם הַפָּשׁוּט לְתִיקּוּן הָאֲרִ״י זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה, לוֹמַר מִזְמוֹר זֶה אַחַר תִּיקּוּן חֲצוֹת קוֹדֶם הַלִּימּוּד – כְּדֵי לִלְמוֹד בְּשִׂמְחָה אֲמִיתִּית בַּה׳ הַבָּאָה אַחַר הָעֶצֶב; שֶׁיֵּשׁ לְשִׂמְחָה זוֹ יִתְרוֹן, כְּיִתְרוֹן הָאוֹר הַבָּא מִן הַחֹשֶׁךְ דַּוְקָא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּזֹּהַר עַל פָּסוּק: ״וְרָאִיתִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ יִתְרוֹן לַחָכְמָה מִן הַסִּכְלוּת כִּיתְרוֹן הָאוֹר כוּ׳״, עַיֵּין שָׁם, וְדַי לַמֵּבִין.
This is the simple reason why the Arizal instituted the recital of this Psalm after the Midnight Prayer, before commencing study, in order to study with the true joy in G–d which succeeds remorse. For such joy has an excellence similar to that of a light emerging from the very darkness, as is written in the Zohar on the verse, “And I saw that wisdom surpasses folly, as the light surpasses darkness.” Note there, and it will suffice for him who understands.
וּמִקְרָא מָלֵא דִּבֶּר הַכָּתוּב: ״תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר לֹא עָבַדְתָּ אֶת ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּשִׂמְחָה וְגוֹ׳״, וְנוֹדָע לַכֹּל פֵּירוּשׁ הָאֲרִ״י זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה עַל פָּסוּק זֶה:
Furthermore, Scripture states it explicitly: “Because you did not serve the L–rd your G–d with joyfulness…”—and everyone is familiar with the commentary of the Arizal on this verse.
וְהִנֵּה, עֵצָה הַיְּעוּצָה לְטַהֵר לִבּוֹ מִכָּל עֶצֶב וְנִדְנוּד דְּאָגָה מִמִּילֵּי דְעָלְמָא, וַאֲפִילוּ בָּנֵי חַיֵּי וּמְזוֹנֵי, מוּדַעַת זֹאת לַכֹּל מַאֲמַר רַבּוֹתֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה: ״כְּשֵׁם שֶׁמְּבָרֵךְ עַל הַטּוֹבָה כוּ׳״, וּפֵירְשׁוּ בַּגְּמָרָא: ״לְקַבּוּלֵי בְּשִׂמְחָה״, כְּמוֹ שִׂמְחַת הַטּוֹבָה הַנִּגְלֵית וְנִרְאֵית, כִּי ״גַּם זוֹ – לְטוֹבָה״, רַק שֶׁאֵינָהּ נִגְלֵית וְנִרְאֵית לְעֵינֵי בָשָׂר, כִּי, הִיא מֵ״עָלְמָא דְאִתְכַּסְיָא״ שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מֵ״עָלְמָא דְאִתְגַּלְיָיא״, שֶׁהוּא – ו״ה מִשֵּׁם הֲוָיָ״ה בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, וְ״עָלְמָא דְאִתְכַּסְיָא״ – הוּא י״ה, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁכָּתוּב: ״אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר תְּיַסְּרֶנּוּ יָּ״הּ וְגוֹ׳״.
The following is sound counsel as to how to cleanse one’s heart of all sadness and of every trace of worry about mundane matters, even about children, health, and sustenance. Everyone is familiar with the statement of the Rabbis that “Just as one must recite a blessing for the good, [one must also recite a blessing for misfortune].” In the Gemara it is explained that one should accept [misfortune] with joy, like the joy of a visible and obvious benefit, for “this is also for the good,” except that it is not apparent and visible to mortal eyes because it stems from the “hidden world” which is higher than the “revealed world,” the latter emanating from the letters vav and hey of the Name of Havaya, whereas the “hidden world” represents the letters yud and hey. Hence the meaning of the verse, “Fortunate is the man whom You chastise, O L–rd.”
וְלָכֵן אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה, כִּי ״הַשְּׂמֵחִים בְּיִסּוּרִים – עֲלֵיהֶם הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: וְאוֹהֲבָיו כְּצֵאת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ״, כִּי, הַשִּׂמְחָה הִיא מֵאַהֲבָתוֹ קִרְבַת ה׳ יוֹתֵר מִכָּל חַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, כְּדִכְתִיב: ״כִּי טוֹב חַסְדְּךָ מֵחַיִּים וְגוֹ׳״, וְקִרְבַת ה׳ – הִיא בְּיֶתֶר שְׂאֵת וּמַעֲלָה לְאֵין קֵץ בְּ״עָלְמָא דְאִתְכַּסְיָא״, כִּי ״שָׁם חֶבְיוֹן עוּזּוֹ״ וְ״יוֹשֵׁב בְּסֵתֶר עֶלְיוֹן״, וְעַל כֵּן זוֹכֶה לְ״צֵאת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ״ לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, שֶׁהִיא יְצִיאַת חַמָּה מִנַרְתֵּקָה, שֶׁהִיא מְכוּסָּה בּוֹ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וְלֶעָתִיד – תִּתְגַּלֶּה מִכִּסּוּיָהּ, דְּהַיְינוּ, שֶׁאָז יִתְגַּלֶּה עָלְמָא דְאִתְכַּסְיָא, וְיִזְרַח וְיָאִיר בְּגִילּוּי רַב וְעָצוּם לְכָל הַחוֹסִים בּוֹ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּמִסְתּוֹפְפִים בְּצִלּוֹ, צֵל הַחָכְמָה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת צֵל וְלֹא אוֹרָה וְטוֹבָה נִרְאֵית, וְדַי לַמֵּבִין:
Therefore, the rabbis, of blessed memory, commented that it is to those who rejoice in their afflictions that the verse refers: “But they that love Him shall be as the sun going forth in its might.” For this is the joy of desiring the nearness of G–d more than anything in the life of this world, as is written, “For Your kindness is better than life…,” and the nearness of G–d is infinitely stronger and more sublime in the “hidden world,” for “The concealment of His strength is there,” and “The Most High abides in secrecy.” Therefore, [the man who accepts affliction with joy] merits [to see] the “sun going forth in its might”—in the World to Come, i.e., the sun emerging from its sheath in which it is enclosed in this world. But in the World to Come it will appear out of its covering, meaning that then the “hidden world” will be revealed and will shine and send forth light in a great and intense revelation to those who had taken refuge in Him in this world and had taken shelter under His “shadow”—the shadow of wisdom (chochmah), i.e., in the sense of “shade” as differing from light and revealed goodness. Suffice it for him who understands.
אַךְ הָעַצְבוּת מִמִּילֵּי דִשְׁמַיָּא צָרִיךְ לָשִׁית עֵצוֹת בְּנַפְשׁוֹ לִיפָּטֵר מִמֶּנָּה, אֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר בִּשְׁעַת עֲבוֹדָה, שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לַעֲבוֹד ה׳ בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְטוּב לֵבָב, אֶלָּא אֲפִילוּ מִי שֶׁהוּא בַּעַל עֲסָקִים וְדֶרֶךְ אֶרֶץ, אִם נוֹפֵל לוֹ עֶצֶב וּדְאָגָה מִמִּילֵּי דִשְׁמַיָּא בִּשְׁעַת עֲסָקָיו, בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁהוּא תַּחְבּוּלַת הַיֵּצֶר – כְּדֵי לְהַפִּילוֹ אַחַר כָּךְ בְּתַאֲווֹת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כַּנּוֹדָע, שֶׁאִם לֹא כֵן, מֵאַיִן בָּאָה לוֹ עַצְבוּת אֲמִיתִּית מֵחֲמַת אַהֲבַת ה׳ אוֹ יִרְאָתוֹ, בְּאֶמְצַע עֲסָקָיו.
As for the sadness which is connected with heavenly matters, one must seek ways and means of freeing oneself from it, to say nothing of the time of Divine service, when one must serve G–d with gladness and a joyful heart. But even if he is a man of commerce and worldly affairs, should there enter into him any melancholy or anxiety about heavenly matters during the time of his business affairs, it is clearly a machination of evil impulse in order to lure him afterward into lusts, G–d forbid, as is known. For were it not so, whence would a genuine sadness, which is one that is derived from love or fear of G–d, come to him in the midst of his business affairs?
וְהִנֵּה, בֵּין שֶׁנָּפְלָה לוֹ הָעַצְבוּת בִּשְׁעַת עֲבוֹדָה בְּתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה אוֹ בִּתְפִלָּה, וּבֵין שֶׁנָּפְלָה לוֹ שֶׁלֹּא בִּשְׁעַת עֲבוֹדָה, זֹאת יָשִׂים אֶל לִבּוֹ: כִּי אֵין הַזְּמַן גְּרָמָא כָּעֵת לְעַצְבוּת אֲמִיתִּית, אֲפִילוּ לְדַאֲגַת עֲוֹנוֹת חֲמוּרִים חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, רַק לָזֹאת צָרִיךְ קְבִיעוּת עִתִּים וּשְׁעַת הַכּוֹשֶׁר בְּיִשּׁוּב הַדַּעַת, לְהִתְבּוֹנֵן בִּגְדוּלַּת ה׳ אֲשֶׁר חָטָא לוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁעַל יְדֵי זֶה יִהְיֶה לִבּוֹ נִשְׁבָּר בֶּאֱמֶת בִּמְרִירוּת אֲמִיתִּית.
Thus, whether the melancholy encroaches on him during Divine service, in study or prayer, or not during Divine service, he should tell himself that now is not the time for genuine anxiety, not even for worry over serious transgressions, G–d forbid. For, for this, one needs appointed times and a propitious occasion, with calmness of mind to reflect on the greatness of G–d, against Whom one has sinned, so that thereby one’s heart may truly be rent with sincere contrition.
וְכִמְבוֹאָר עֵת זוֹ בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר. וְשָׁם נִתְבָּאֵר גַּם כֵּן, כִּי מִיָּד אַחַר שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּר לִבּוֹ בְּעִתִּים קְבוּעִים הָהֵם, אֲזַי יָסִיר הָעֶצֶב מִלִּבּוֹ לְגַמְרֵי, וְיַאֲמִין אֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵימָה כִּי ה׳ הֶעֱבִיר חַטָּאתוֹ ״וְרַב לִסְלוֹחַ״. וְזוֹ הִיא הַשִּׂמְחָה הָאֲמִיתִּית בַּה׳ הַבָּאָה אַחַר הָעֶצֶב, כַּנִּזְכָּר לְעֵיל:
It is explained elsewhere when this time should be, and it is there explained also that as soon as his heart has been broken during these specific occasions, he should forthwith completely remove the sorrow from his heart and believe with a perfect faith that G–d has removed his sin in His abundant forgiveness. This is the true joy in G–d which comes after the remorse, as mentioned above.
