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Full manual adapted from Ophanim: Yoga of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet — A Practical Guide, Book One, with permission and attribution retained throughout.
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Sefer Yetzirah ספר יצירה
Sefer Yetzirah, the “Book of Creation” (or “Book of Formation”), is the oldest surviving text of Jewish mysticism, traditionally attributed to the Patriarch Avraham. It describes the world as formed through 32 “paths of wisdom”: the Ten Sefirot Belimah and the Twenty-Two Letters of the Hebrew alphabet. It is the direct textual foundation for the Ophanim system of letter postures presented on this site.
Hebrew below is the Short Recension (Warsaw 1884 print, public domain, via Sefaria). Each verse now shows two English renderings: first, an original translation made directly from this Hebrew for this site (by AI, unreviewed by a scholar of the text — treat it as a reading aid, not an authoritative translation); second, the corresponding passage from the Long Recension, a different early-20th-century public-domain English translation (period wording consistent with the 1923 Knut Stenring edition of The Book of Formation), included for comparison since it’s a different manuscript tradition with its own verse divisions. The two won’t always match exactly in scope — occasionally one Hebrew verse’s content is split across, or combined with, a neighboring Long Recension passage. A few specific details (which planet or body part a given letter is tied to, for instance) genuinely differ between the two traditions.
Chapter 1 — The Ten Sefirot
1:1
בשלשים ושתים נתיבות פליאות חכמה חקק יה יהוה צבאות אלהי ישראל אלהים חיים ומלך עולם אל שדי רחום וחנון רם ונשא שוכן עד מרום וקדוש שמו וברא את עולמו בשלשה ספרים בספר וספר וספור:
Translation (this site)
With thirty-two wondrous paths of wisdom, YAH, the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, the living God, the King of the universe, God Almighty, merciful and gracious, exalted and lofty, dwelling forever, whose Name is holy, engraved and created His world with three books: text, number, and speech.
Long Version (for comparison)
In 32 most occult and wonderful paths of wisdom did JAH the Lord of Hosts engrave his name: God of the armies of Israel, ever-living God, merciful and gracious, sublime, dwelling on high, who inhabiteth eternity. He created this universe by the three Sepharim, Number, Writing, and Speech.
1:2
עשר ספירות בלי מה ועשרים ושתים אותיות יסוד שלש אמות ושבע כפולות ושתים עשרה פשוטות:
Translation (this site)
Ten Sefirot of Nothingness, and twenty-two foundational letters: three mothers, seven doubles, and twelve simples.
Long Version (for comparison)
Ten are the numbers, as are the Sephiroth, and twenty-two the letters, these are the Foundation of all things. Of these letters, three are mothers, seven are double, and twelve are simple.
1:3
עשר ספירות בלימה מספר עשר אצבעות חמש כנגד חמש וברית יחיד מכוונת באמצע כמלת הלשון וכמילת מעור:
Translation (this site)
Ten Sefirot of Nothingness, corresponding to the number of ten fingers, five opposite five, with a single covenant set precisely in the middle — like the circumcision of the tongue and the circumcision of the flesh.
Long Version (for comparison)
The ten numbers formed from nothing are the Decad: these are seen in the fingers of the hands, five on one, five on the other, and over them is the Covenant by voice spiritual, and the rite of Circumcision, corporeal.
1:4
עשר ספירות בלימה עשר ולא תשע, עשר ולא אחת עשרה, הבן בחכמה וחכם בבינה, בחון בהם וחקור מהם והעמד דבר על בוריו והשב יוצר על מכונו:
Translation (this site)
Ten Sefirot of Nothingness — ten, and not nine; ten, and not eleven. Understand with wisdom, and be wise with understanding. Examine them and investigate from them; establish each thing clearly on its foundation, and set the Former back upon His throne.
Long Version (for comparison)
Ten are the numbers of the ineffable Sephiroth, ten and not nine, ten and not eleven. Learn this wisdom, and be wise in the understanding of it, investigate these numbers, and draw knowledge from them, fix the design in its purity, and pass from it to its Creator seated on his throne.
1:5
עשר ספירות בלי מה מדתן עשר שאין להם סוף עומק ראשית ועומק אחרית עומק טוב ועומק רע עומק רום ועומק תחת עומק מזרח ועומק מערב עומק צפון ועומק דרום אדון יחיד אל מלך נאמן מושל בכולם ממעון קדשו ועד עדי עד:
Translation (this site)
Ten Sefirot of Nothingness, whose measure is ten and has no end: the depth of the beginning and the depth of the end, the depth of good and the depth of evil, the depth of above and the depth of below, the depth of east and the depth of west, the depth of north and the depth of south — one sole Master, faithful God and King, ruling over them all from His holy dwelling, unto eternity of eternities.
Long Version (for comparison)
These Ten Numbers, beyond the Infinite one, have the boundless realms, boundless origin and end, an abyss of good and one of evil, boundless height and depth, East and West, North and South, and the one only God and king, faithful forever seated on his throne, shall rule over all, forever and ever.
1:6
עשר ספירות בלי מה צפייתן כמראה הבזק ותכליתן אין להן קץ ודברו בהן ברצוא ושוב ולמאמרו כסופה ירדופו ולפני כסאו הם משתחוים:
Translation (this site)
Ten Sefirot of Nothingness, whose appearance is like a flash of lightning, and whose end has no limit; His word is in them as they dart forth and return, and at His command they pursue like a whirlwind, and before His throne they bow down.
Long Version (for comparison)
These ten Sephiroth which are ineffable, whose appearance is like scintillating flames, have no end but are infinite. The word of God is in them as they burst forth, and as they return; they obey the divine command, rushing along as a whirlwind, returning to prostrate themselves at his throne.
1:7
עשר ספירות בלי מה נעוץ סופן בתחלתן ותחלתן בסופן כשלהבת קשורה בגחלת שאדון יחיד ואין לו שני ולפני אחד מה אתה סופר:
Translation (this site)
Ten Sefirot of Nothingness, whose end is fixed in their beginning and their beginning in their end, like a flame bound to a coal — for the Master is one, and He has no second. And before the One, what do you count?
Long Version (for comparison)
These ten Sephiroth which are, moreover, ineffable, have their end even as their beginning, conjoined, even as is a flame to a burning coal: for our God is superlative in his unity, and does not permit any second one. And who canst thou place before the only one?
1:8
עשר ספירות בלימה בלום פיך מלדבר ולבך מלהרהר ואם רץ לבך שוב למקום שלכך נאמר והחיות רצוא ושוב. ועל דבר זה נכרת ברית:
Translation (this site)
Ten Sefirot of Nothingness: restrain your mouth from speaking and your heart from pondering, and if your heart races, return to the place — for so it is said, “and the Chayot ran and returned.” And concerning this matter a covenant was cut.
Long Version (for comparison)
And as to this Decad of the Sephiroth, restrain thy lips from comment, and thy mind from thought of them, and if thy heart fail thee return to thy place; therefore is it written, “The living creatures ran and returned,” and on this wise was the covenant made with us.
1:9
עשר ספירות בלימה, אחת רוח אלהים חיים ברוך ומבורך שמו של חי העולמים קול ורוח ודבור וזהו רוח הקדש:
Translation (this site)
Ten Sefirot of Nothingness: One — the Spirit of the Living God, blessed and ever-blessed be the Name of the Life of the worlds — voice, spirit, and speech; and this is the Holy Spirit.
Long Version (for comparison)
These are the ten emanations of number. One is the Spirit of the Living God, blessed and more than blessed be the name of the Living God of Ages. The Holy Spirit is his Voice, his Spirit, and his Word.
1:10
שתים רוח מרוח חקק וחצב בה עשרים ושתים אותיות יסוד שלש אמות ושבע כפולות ושתים עשרה פשוטות ורוח אחת מהן:
Translation (this site)
Two — Spirit from Spirit. He engraved and hewed within it the twenty-two foundational letters: three mothers, seven doubles, and twelve simples; and the Spirit is one of them.
Long Version (for comparison)
Second, from the Spirit he made Air and formed for speech twenty-two letters, three of which are mothers, A, M, SH, seven are double, B, G, D, K, P, R, T, and twelve are single, E, V, Z, CH, H, I, L, N, S, O, Tz, Q, but the spirit is first among these.
1:11
שלש מים מרוח חקק וחצב בהן תהו ובהו רפש וטיט חקקן כמין ערוגה הציבן כמין חומה סככם כמין מעזיבה:
Translation (this site)
Three — Water from Spirit. He engraved and hewed within it chaos and void, mire and clay. He engraved them like a garden bed, set them up like a wall, and roofed them like a ceiling.
Long Version (for comparison)
Third, Primitive Water. He also formed and designed from his Spirit, and from the void and formless made earth, even as a rampart, or standing wall, and varied its surface even as the crossing of beams.
1:12
ארבע אש ממים חקק וחצב בה כסא הכבוד שרפים ואופנים וחיות הקודש ומלאכי השרת ומשלשתן יסד מעונו שנאמר עושה מלאכיו רוחות משרתיו אש לוהט:
Translation (this site)
Four — Fire from Water. He engraved and hewed within it the Throne of Glory, the Seraphim, the Ophanim, the Holy Chayot, and the Ministering Angels; and from these three He founded His dwelling, as it is said: “He makes His angels winds, His ministers a flaming fire.”
Long Version (for comparison)
Fourth, from the Water, He designed Fire, and from it formed for himself a throne of honor, with Auphanim, Seraphim, Holy Animals, and ministering Angels, and with these he formed his dwelling, as is written in the text “Who maketh his angels spirits and his ministers a flaming fire.” (Psalm 104:4)
1:13
(חמש שלש אותיות מן הפשוטות חתם רום ברר שלש וקבען בשמו הגדול יה”ו. וחתם בהם שש קצוות) [הנוסחא הנכונה: בירר ג’ אותיות מן הפשוטות בסוד ג’ אמות אמ”ש וקבען בשמו הגדול וחתם בהם ו’ קצוות, חמש חתם רום] ופנה למעלה וחתמו ביה”ו. שש חתם תחת ופנה למטה וחתמו ביו”ה. שבע חתם מזרח ופנה לפניו וחתמו בהי”ו. שמנה חתם מערב ופנה לאחריו וחתמו בהו”י. תשע חתם דרום ופנה לימינו וחתמו בוי”ה. עשר חתם צפון ופנה לשמאלו וחתמו בוה”י:
Translation (this site)
He selected three letters from among the simples, by the secret of the three mothers Alef-Mem-Shin, and fixed them in His great Name, and sealed with them the six directions. Five: He sealed the height — He turned upward and sealed it with Yod-Heh-Vav. Six: He sealed the depth — He turned downward and sealed it with Yod-Vav-Heh. Seven: He sealed the east — He turned forward and sealed it with Heh-Yod-Vav. Eight: He sealed the west — He turned backward and sealed it with Heh-Vav-Yod. Nine: He sealed the south — He turned to His right and sealed it with Vav-Yod-Heh. Ten: He sealed the north — He turned to His left and sealed it with Vav-Heh-Yod.
Long Version (for comparison)
He selected three letters from the simple ones, and sealed them as forming his great Name, I H V and he sealed the universe in six directions.
Five.— He looked above, and sealed the height, with I H V.
Six.— He looked below, and sealed the deep, with I V H.
Seven.— He looked forward, and sealed the East, with H I V.
Eight.— He looked backward, and sealed the West, with V H I.
Nine.— He looked to the right, and sealed the South, with V I H.
Ten.— He looked to the left, and sealed the North, with H V I.
Five.— He looked above, and sealed the height, with I H V.
Six.— He looked below, and sealed the deep, with I V H.
Seven.— He looked forward, and sealed the East, with H I V.
Eight.— He looked backward, and sealed the West, with V H I.
Nine.— He looked to the right, and sealed the South, with V I H.
Ten.— He looked to the left, and sealed the North, with H V I.
1:14
אלו עשר ספירות בלימה אחת רוח אלהים חיים ורוח מרוח ומים מרוח ואש ממים ורום מעלה ותחת מזרח ומערב וצפון ודרום:
Translation (this site)
These are the Ten Sefirot of Nothingness: One — the Spirit of the Living God; Spirit from Spirit; Water from Spirit; Fire from Water; and height above and below, east and west, north and south.
Long Version (for comparison)
These are the ten ineffable existences, the spirit of the living God, Air, Water, Fire, Height and Depth, East and West, North and South.
Chapter 2 — The Twenty-Two Letters
2:1
עשרים ושתים אותיות יסוד שלש אמות שבע כפולות ושתים עשרה פשוטות. שלש אמות אמ”ש יסודן כף זכות וכף חובה ולשון חק מכריע בינתים:
Translation (this site)
Twenty-two foundational letters: three mothers, seven doubles, and twelve simples. The three mothers, Alef-Mem-Shin, their foundation is a pan of merit and a pan of guilt, with the tongue of the law deciding between them.
Long Version (for comparison)
The foundations are the twenty-two letters, three mothers, seven double, and twelve single letters. Three mothers, namely A, M, SH, these are Air, Water, and Fire: Mute as Water, Hissing as Fire, and Air of a spiritual type, is as the tongue of a balance standing erect between them pointing out the equilibrium which exists.
2:2
עשרים ושתים אותיות חקקן חצבן שקלן והמירן צרפן וצר בהם נפש כל כל היצור ונפש כל העתיד לצור:
Translation (this site)
Twenty-two letters: He engraved them, hewed them, weighed them, exchanged them, combined them, and formed with them the soul of every creature formed and the soul of everything yet to be formed.
Long Version (for comparison)
He hath formed, weighed, transmuted, composed, and created with these twenty-two letters every living being, and every soul yet uncreated.
2:3
עשרים ושתים אותיות יסוד חקוקות בקול חצובות ברוח קבועות בפה בחמשה מקומות אחה”ע בומ”ף גיכ”ק דטלנ”ת זסשר”ץ:
Translation (this site)
Twenty-two foundational letters: engraved in the voice, hewn in the breath, fixed in the mouth in five places: Alef-Het-Heh-Ayin in the throat; Bet-Vav-Mem-Peh at the lips; Gimel-Yod-Khaf-Kuf at the palate; Dalet-Tet-Lamed-Nun-Tav at the tongue; Zayin-Samech-Shin-Resh-Tzadi at the teeth.
Long Version (for comparison)
Twenty-two letters are formed by the voice, impressed on the air, and audibly uttered in five situations, in the throat, guttural sounds; in the palate, palatals; by the tongue, linguals; through the teeth, dentals; and by the lips, labial sounds.
2:4
עשרים ושתים אותיות יסוד קבועות בגלגל ברל”א שערים וחוזר הגלגל פנים ואחור וזהו סימן לדבר אין בטובה למעלה מענג ואין ברעה למטה מנגע:
Translation (this site)
Twenty-two foundational letters, fixed in a wheel with two hundred and thirty-one gates; and the wheel turns forward and backward. And this is a sign of the matter: there is no good higher than oneg (delight), and no evil lower than nega (affliction) — the same three letters, reversed.
Long Version (for comparison)
These twenty-two letters, the foundations, He arranged as on a sphere, with two hundred and thirty-one modes of entrance. If the sphere be rotated forward, good is implied, if in a retrograde manner evil is intended.
2:5
כיצד שקלן והמירן אל”ף עם כלם וכלם עם אל”ף, בי”ת עם כלם וכלם עם בי”ת וחוזרת חלילה נמצא כל היצור וכל הדבור יוצא בשם אחד:
Translation (this site)
How did He weigh and exchange them? Alef with all of them, and all of them with Alef; Bet with all of them, and all of them with Bet — and so it cycles round. It follows that every creature and every utterance issues forth by a single name.
Long Version (for comparison)
For He indeed showed the mode of combination of the letters, each with each, Aleph with all, and all with Aleph. Thus in combining all together in pairs are produced these two hundred and thirty-one gates of knowledge.
2:6
יצר מתהו ממש ועשה אינו ישנו וחצב עמודים גדולים מאויר שאינו נתפש וזה סימן צופה וממיר עושה כל היצור ואת כל הדברים שם אחד וסימן לדבר עשרים ושתים חפצים בגוף אחד:
Translation (this site)
He formed substance out of chaos, and made what-is-not into what-is; He hewed great pillars out of ungraspable air. And this is the sign: He observes and transforms, making every creature and every thing a single name. And the sign of the matter: twenty-two objects in a single body.
Long Version (for comparison)
And from Nothingness did He make something, and all forms of speech and every created thing, and from the empty void He made the solid earth, and from the non-existent He brought forth Life. He hewed, as it were, immense column or colossal pillars, out of the intangible air, and from the empty space. And this is the impress of the whole, twenty-one letters, all from one the Aleph.
Chapter 3 — The Three Mothers
3:1
שלש אמות אמ”ש יסודן כף חובה וכף זכות ולשון חק מכריע בינתים:
Translation (this site)
The three mothers, Alef-Mem-Shin: their foundation is a pan of guilt and a pan of merit, with the tongue of the law deciding between them.
Long Version (for comparison)
The three mother letters A, M, SH are the foundations of the whole; and resemble a Balance, the good in one scale, the evil in the other, and the oscillating tongue of the Balance between them.
3:2
שלש אמות אמ”ש סוד גדול מופלא ומכוסה וחתום בשש טבעות וממנו יוצאים אש ומים מתחלקים זכר ונקבה: שלש אמות אמ”ש יסודן ומהן נולדו אבות שמהם נברא הכל:
Translation (this site)
The three mothers, Alef-Mem-Shin, are a great secret, wondrous and hidden, sealed with six rings; and from it come forth fire and water, which divide into male and female. The three mothers, Alef-Mem-Shin, are their foundation, and from them were born the fathers, from which everything was created.
Long Version (for comparison)
These three mothers enclose a mighty mystery, most occult and most marvelous, sealed as with six rings, and from them proceed primeval Fire, Water, and Air; these are subsequently differentiated into male and female. At first existed these three mothers, and there arose three masculine powers, and hence all things have originated.
3:3
שלש אמות אמ”ש בעולם אויר מים אש שמים נבראו תחלה מאש וארץ נבראת ממים והאויר מכריע בין האש ובין המים:
Translation (this site)
The three mothers, Alef-Mem-Shin, in the world: air, water, fire. The heavens were created first from fire, and the earth was created from water, and the air decides between the fire and the water.
Long Version (for comparison)
The three mothers are A, M, SH; and in the beginning as to the Macrocosm the Heavens were created from Fire; the Earth from primeval Water; and the Air was formed from the Spirit, which stands alone in the midst, and is the Mediator between them.
3:4
שלש אמות אמ”ש בשנה אש ומים ורוח חום נברא מאש קור ממים ורויה מרוח מכריע בינתים. שלש אמות אמ”ש בנפש אש ומים ורוח ראש נברא מאש ובטן נברא ממים וגויה נברא מרוח מכריע בינתים:
Translation (this site)
The three mothers, Alef-Mem-Shin, in the year: fire, water, and breath. Heat was created from fire, cold from water, and moisture from breath, deciding between them. The three mothers, Alef-Mem-Shin, in the soul: fire, water, and breath. The head was created from fire, the belly from water, and the torso from breath, deciding between them.
Long Version (for comparison)
In the Year or as regards Time, these three mothers represent Heat, Cold, and a Temperate climate, the heat from the fire, the cold from the water, and the temperate state from the spiritual air which again is an equalizer between them. These three mothers again represent in the Microcosm or Human form, male and female; the Head, the Belly, and the Chest; the head from the fire, the belly from water, and the chest from the air lieth between them.
3:5
שלש אמות אמ”ש חקקן וחצבן וצרפן וחתם בהן שלש אמות בעולם ושלש אמות בשנה ושלש אמות בנפש זכר ונקבה:
Translation (this site)
The three mothers, Alef-Mem-Shin — He engraved them, hewed them, combined them, and sealed with them the three mothers in the world, the three mothers in the year, and the three mothers in the soul, male and female.
Long Version (for comparison)
These three mothers did he create, form, and design, and combine with the three mothers in the world, and in the year, and in Man, both male and female.
3:6
המליך אות אל”ף ברוח וקשר לו כתר וצרפן זה עם זה וחתם בהן אויר בעולם ורויה בשנה וגויה בנפש זכר באמ”ש ונקבה באש”ם:
Translation (this site)
He enthroned the letter Alef over breath, bound a crown to it, combined them one with another, and sealed with them air in the world, moisture in the year, and the torso in the soul — the male as Alef-Mem-Shin, and the female as Alef-Shin-Mem.
Long Version (for comparison)
He caused Aleph to reign in the air, and crown it, and combined one with the other, and with these he sealed the Air in the world, the temperate climate of the year, and the chest in man; the male with A, M, SH, the female with SH, M, A.
3:7
המליך אות מ”ם במים וקשר לו כתר וצרפן זה עם זה וחתם בהן ארץ בעולם וקור בשנה ובטן בנפש זכר ונקבה זכר במא”ש ונקבה במש”א:
Translation (this site)
He enthroned the letter Mem over water, bound a crown to it, combined them one with another, and sealed with them earth in the world, cold in the year, and the belly in the soul, male and female — the male as Mem-Alef-Shin, and the female as Mem-Shin-Alef.
Long Version (for comparison)
He caused Mem to predominate in Water, and crowned it, and combined it with others, and formed Earth on the world, cold in the year, and the fruit of the womb in mankind, being carried in the belly.
3:8
המליך אות שי”ן באש וקשר לו כתר וצרפן זה עם זה וחתם בהן שמים בעולם וחום בשנה וראש בנפש זכר ונקבה:
Translation (this site)
He enthroned the letter Shin over fire, bound a crown to it, combined them one with another, and sealed with them the heavens in the world, heat in the year, and the head in the soul, male and female.
Long Version (for comparison)
He caused Shin to reign in Fire and crowned it, and he combined one with the other, and sealed them, as heaven in the universe, as heat in the year, and as the head of Man and Woman.
Chapter 4 — The Seven Doubles
4:1
שבע כפולות בג”ד כפר”ת (מתנהגות בשתי לשונות), יסודן חיים ושלום וחכמה ועושר חן וזרע וממשלה, ומתנהגות בשתי לשונות ב”בּ ג”גּ ד”דּ כ”כּ פ”פּ ר”רּ ת”תּ תבנית רך וקשה תבנית גבור וחלש כפולות שהן תמורות. תמורת חיים מות תמורת שלום רע תמורת חכמה אולת תמורת עושר עוני תמורת חן כיעור תמורת זרע שממה תמורת ממשלה עבדות:
Translation (this site)
The seven doubles, Bet-Gimel-Dalet-Kaf-Peh-Resh-Tav, behave with two pronunciations. Their foundation is life, peace, wisdom, wealth, favor, fertility, and dominion; a form of soft and hard, a form of strong and weak. They are doubles because they are exchanges: in exchange for life, death; in exchange for peace, evil; in exchange for wisdom, folly; in exchange for wealth, poverty; in exchange for favor, ugliness; in exchange for fertility, desolation; in exchange for dominion, servitude.
Long Version (for comparison)
There were formed seven double letters, Beth, Gimel, Daleth, Kaph, Pe, Resh, Tau, each has two voices, either aspirated or softened. These are the foundations of Life, Peace, Riches, Beauty or Reputation, Wisdom, Fruitfulness, and Power. These are double, because their opposites take part in life, opposed to Life is Death; to Peace, War; to Riches, Poverty; to Beauty or Reputation, Deformity or Disrepute; to Wisdom, Ignorance; to Fruitfulness, Sterility; to Power, Slavery.
4:2
שבע כפולות בג”ד כפר”ת שבע ולא שש שבע ולא שמונה בחון בהן וחקור מהן והעמד דבר על בוריו והשב יוצר על מכונו:
Translation (this site)
The seven doubles, Bet-Gimel-Dalet-Kaf-Peh-Resh-Tav: seven, and not six; seven, and not eight. Examine them and investigate from them; establish each thing clearly on its foundation, and set the Former back upon His throne.
Long Version (for comparison)
No corresponding passage in the Long Version text we have — this refrain (“seven and not six, seven and not eight”) doesn’t appear to survive in this English translation.
4:3
שבע כפולות בג”ד כפר”ת כנגד ז’ קצוות מהם ו’ קצוות מעלה ומטה מזרח ומערב צפון ודרום והיכל הקדש מכוון באמצע והוא נושא את כולן:
Translation (this site)
The seven doubles, Bet-Gimel-Dalet-Kaf-Peh-Resh-Tav, correspond to the seven directions: six of them are above and below, east and west, north and south, and the Holy Sanctuary is set precisely in the middle, and it bears them all.
Long Version (for comparison)
These seven double letters point out the dimensions, East, West, height, depth, North, South, with the holy temple in the middle, sustaining all things.
4:4
שבע כפולות בג”ד כפר”ת חקקן חצבן צרפן וצר בהם כוכבים בעולם וימים בשנה ושערים בנפש ומהן חקק שבעה רקיעים ושבע אדמות ושבע שבתות לפיכך חבב שביעי תחת כל השמים:
Translation (this site)
The seven doubles, Bet-Gimel-Dalet-Kaf-Peh-Resh-Tav: He engraved them, hewed them, combined them, and formed with them the wandering stars in the world, the days in the year, and the gates in the soul; and from them He engraved seven firmaments, seven lands, and seven sabbaths — therefore He cherished the seventh under all the heavens.
Long Version (for comparison)
These seven double letters He formed, designed, created, and combined into the Stars of the Universe, the days of the week, the orifices of perception in man; and from them he made seven heavens, and seven planets, all from nothingness, and, moreover, he has preferred and blessed the sacred Heptad.
4:5
כיצד המליך אות ב’ בחיים וקשר לו כתר וצר בו שבתי בעולם ויום ראשון בשנה ועין ימין בנפש:
Translation (this site)
How did He enthrone them? He enthroned the letter Bet over life, bound a crown to it, and formed with it Saturn in the world, the first day in the year, and the right eye in the soul.
Long Version (for comparison)
He caused and produced Beth, predominant in wisdom, crowned, combined, and formed the Moon in the Universe, the first day of the week, and the right eye, of man.
4:6
המליך אות ג’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו צדק בעולם יום שני בשנה ועין שמאל בנפש:
Translation (this site)
He enthroned the letter Gimel, bound a crown to it, and formed with it Jupiter in the world, the second day in the year, and the left eye in the soul.
Long Version (for comparison)
Gimel, predominant in health, crowned, combined and formed Mars in the Universe, the second day of the week, and the right ear in man.
4:7
המליך אות ד’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו מאדים בעולם ויום ג’ בשנה ואוזן ימין בנפש:
Translation (this site)
He enthroned the letter Dalet, bound a crown to it, and formed with it Mars in the world, the third day in the year, and the right ear in the soul.
Long Version (for comparison)
Daleth, predominant in fertility, crowned, combined, and formed the Sun in the Universe, the third day of the week, and the right nostril in man.
4:8
המליך אות כ’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו חמה בעולם ויום ד’ בשנה ואזן שמאל בנפש:
Translation (this site)
He enthroned the letter Kaf, bound a crown to it, and formed with it the Sun in the world, the fourth day in the year, and the left ear in the soul.
Long Version (for comparison)
Kaph, predominant in life, crowned, combined, and formed Venus in the Universe, the fourth day of the week, and the left eye of man.
4:9
המליך אות פ’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו נוגה בעולם ויום ה’ בשנה ונחיר ימין בנפש:
Translation (this site)
He enthroned the letter Peh, bound a crown to it, and formed with it Venus in the world, the fifth day in the year, and the right nostril in the soul.
Long Version (for comparison)
Pe, predominant in power, crowned, combined, and formed Mercury in the Universe, the fifth day of the week, and the left ear in man.
4:10
המליך אות ר’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו כוכב בעולם ויום ששי בשנה ונחיר שמאל בנפש:
Translation (this site)
He enthroned the letter Resh, bound a crown to it, and formed with it Mercury in the world, the sixth day in the year, and the left nostril in the soul.
Long Version (for comparison)
Resh, predominant in peace, crowned, combined, and formed Saturn in the Universe, the sixth day of the week, and the left nostril in man.
4:11
המליך אות ת’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו לבנה בעולם ויום שבת בשנה ופה בנפש:
Translation (this site)
He enthroned the letter Tav, bound a crown to it, and formed with it the Moon in the world, the Sabbath day in the year, and the mouth in the soul.
Long Version (for comparison)
Tau, predominant in beauty, crowned, combined and formed Jupiter in the Universe, the seventh day in the week, and the mouth of man.
4:12
שבע כפולות כיצד צרפן. שתי אבנים בונות שני בתים. שלש בונות ששה בתים. ארבע בונות ארבעה ועשרים בתים. חמש בונות מאה ועשרים בתים. שש בונות שבע מאות ועשרים בתים. שבע בונות חמשת אלפים וארבעים בתים. מכאן ואילך צא וחשוב מה שאין הפה יכול לדבר ואין האוזן יכולה לשמוע. ואלו הן שבעה כוכבים בעולם חמה נוגה כוכב לבנה שבתאי צדק מאדים. ואלו הן ז’ ימים בשנה שבעה ימי בראשית. ושבעה שערים בנפש שתי עינים שתי אזנים ושני נקבי האף והפה. ובהן נחקקו שבעה רקיעים ושבע ארצות ושבע שעות. לפיכך חבב שביעי לכל חפץ תחת השמים:
Translation (this site)
The seven doubles — how did He combine them? Two stones build two houses. Three build six houses. Four build twenty-four houses. Five build one hundred and twenty houses. Six build seven hundred and twenty houses. Seven build five thousand and forty houses. From here onward, go out and reckon what the mouth cannot speak and the ear cannot hear. And these are the seven wandering stars in the world: the Sun, Venus, Mercury, the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars. And these are the seven days of the week: the seven days of Creation. And the seven gates in the soul: two eyes, two ears, the two openings of the nose, and the mouth. And through them were engraved seven firmaments, seven lands, and seven hours — therefore He cherished the seventh for every purpose under the heavens.
Long Version (for comparison)
From two letters, or forms He composed two dwellings; from three, six; from four, twenty-four; from five, one hundred and twenty; from six, seven hundred and twenty; from seven, five thousand and forty; and from thence their numbers increase in a manner beyond counting; and are incomprehensible. These seven are Planets of the Universe, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars; the seven days are the days of creation; and these are the seven gateways of a man, two eyes, two ears, two nostrils and a mouth, through which he perceives by his senses. By these seven letters were also made seven worlds, seven heavens, seven lands, seven seas, seven rivers, seven deserts, seven days, seven weeks from Passover to Pentecost, and every seventh year a jubilee.
Chapter 5 — The Twelve Simples
5:1
שתים עשרה פשוטות ה”ו ז”ח ט”י ל”נ ס”ע צ”ק יסודן ראיה, שמיעה, ריחה, שיחה, לעיטה, תשמיש, מעשה, הלוך, רוגז, שחוק, הרהור, שינה. מדתן שתים עשרה גבולים באלכסונן. גבול מזרחית צפונית, גבול מזרחית דרומית, גבול מזרחית רומית, גבול מזרחית תחתית, גבול צפונית רומית, גבול צפונית תחתית, גבול מערבית דרומית, גבול מערבית צפונית, גבול מערבית רומית, גבול מערבית תחתית, גבול דרומית רומית, גבול דרומית תחתית. ומרחיבין והולכין עד עדי עד והם זרועות עולם:
Translation (this site)
The twelve simples, Heh-Vav, Zayin-Het, Tet-Yod, Lamed-Nun, Samech-Ayin, Tzadi-Kuf: their foundation is sight, hearing, smell, speech, taste, intercourse, work, walking, anger, laughter, thought, and sleep. Their measure is twelve diagonal boundaries: northeast, southeast, upper-east, lower-east, upper-north, lower-north, southwest, northwest, upper-west, lower-west, upper-south, and lower-south. And they extend onward forever and ever, and they are the arms of the world.
Long Version (for comparison)
The simple letters are twelve, namely: Heh, Vau, Zain, Cheth, Teth, Yod, Lamed, Nun, Samech, Ayin, Tzadi, and Qoph; they represent the fundamental properties: sight, hearing, smell, speech, desire for food, the sexual appetite, movement, anger, mirth, thought, sleep, and work. These symbolize also twelve directions in space: northeast, southeast, the east above, the east below, the northwest, southwest, the west above, the west below, the upper south, the lower south, the upper north, the lower north. These diverge to all eternity, and are as the arms of the universe.
5:2
שתים עשרה פשוטות ה”ו ז”ח ט”י ל”נ ס”ע צ”ק חקקן חצבן שקלן צרפן המירן וצר בהם שנים עשר מזלות בעולם סימן טש”ת סא”ב מע”ק גד”ד. ואלו הן שנים עשר חדשים בשנה ניסן אייר סיון תמוז אב אלול תשרי מרחשון כסלו טבת שבט אדר. ואלו הן שנים עשר מנהיגין בנפש שתי ידים ושתי רגלים שתי כליות טחול כבד מרה המסס קיבה קרקבן. עשאן כמין מריבה וערכן כמין מלחמה גם את זה לעומת זה עשה האלהים. כיצד צרפן. המליך אות ה’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו טלה בעולם וניסן בשנה ויד ימין בנפש זכר ונקבה. המליך אות ו’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו שור בעולם ואייר בשנה ויד שמאל בנפש. המליך אות ז’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו תאומים בעולם וסיון בשנה ורגל ימין בנפש. המליך אות ח’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו סרטן בעולם ותמוז בשנה ורגל שמאל בנפש. המליך אות ט’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו אריה בעולם ואב בשנה וכוליא ימין בנפש. המליך אות י’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו בתולה בעולם ואלול בשנה וכוליא שמאל בנפש. המליך אות ל’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו מאזנים בעולם ותשרי בשנה וכבד בנפש. המליך אות נ’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו עקרב בעולם ומרחשוון בשנה וטחול בנפש. המליך אות ס’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו קשת בעולם וכסלו בשנה ומרה בנפש. המליך אות ע’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו גדי בעולם וטבת בשנה והמסס בנפש. המליך אות צ’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו דלי בעולם ושבט בשנה וקיבה בנפש. המליך אות ק’ וקשר לו כתר וצר בו דגים בעולם ואדר בשנה וקרקבן בנפש:
Translation (this site)
The twelve simples: He engraved them, hewed them, weighed them, combined them, and exchanged them, and formed with them the twelve constellations in the world (mnemonic: Tet-Shin-Tav, Samech-Alef-Bet, Mem-Ayin-Kuf, Gimel-Dalet-Dalet). And these are the twelve months of the year: Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishrei, Marcheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, Adar. And these are the twelve leaders in the soul: the two hands, the two feet, the two kidneys, the spleen, the liver, the gall bladder, the small intestine, the stomach, and the gizzard. He made them like a kind of dispute, and arranged them like a kind of war — for God made this one opposite that one. How did He combine them? He enthroned the letter Heh, bound a crown to it, and formed with it Aries in the world, Nisan in the year, and the right hand in the soul, male and female. He enthroned the letter Vav, formed with it Taurus in the world, Iyar in the year, and the left hand in the soul. He enthroned the letter Zayin, formed with it Gemini in the world, Sivan in the year, and the right foot in the soul. He enthroned the letter Het, formed with it Cancer in the world, Tammuz in the year, and the left foot in the soul. He enthroned the letter Tet, formed with it Leo in the world, Av in the year, and the right kidney in the soul. He enthroned the letter Yud, formed with it Virgo in the world, Elul in the year, and the left kidney in the soul. He enthroned the letter Lamed, formed with it Libra in the world, Tishrei in the year, and the liver in the soul. He enthroned the letter Nun, formed with it Scorpio in the world, Marcheshvan in the year, and the spleen in the soul. He enthroned the letter Samech, formed with it Sagittarius in the world, Kislev in the year, and the gall bladder in the soul. He enthroned the letter Ayin, formed with it Capricorn in the world, Tevet in the year, and the small intestine in the soul. He enthroned the letter Tzadi, formed with it Aquarius in the world, Shevat in the year, and the stomach in the soul. He enthroned the letter Kuf, formed with it Pisces in the world, Adar in the year, and the gizzard in the soul.
Long Version (for comparison)
These twelve letters, he designed, formed, combined, weighed, and changed, and created with them the twelve divisions of the heavens, the twelve months of the year, and the twelve important organs of the frame of man, namely the right and left hands, the right and left feet, two kidneys, the liver, the gall, the spleen, the intestines, the gullet, and the stomach. God produced He, predominant in Speech, crowned, combined, and formed Aries in the world, Nisan in the year, and the right foot of man. God produced Vau, predominant in Mind, crowned, combined, and formed Taurus in the world, Iyar in the year, and the right kidney of man. God produced Zain, predominant in movement, crowned, combined, and formed Gemini in the world, Sivan in the year, and the left foot of man. He produced Cheth, predominant in Sight, crowned, combined, and formed Cancer in the world, Tammuz in the year, and the right hand of man. He produced Teth, predominant in Hearing, crowned, combined, and formed Leo in the world, Ab in the year, and the left kidney in man. He produced Yod, predominant in Labor, crowned, combined, and formed Virgo in the world, Elul in the year, and the left hand of man. He produced Lamed, predominant in sexual desire, crowned, combined, and formed Libra in the world, Tishrei in the year, and the gall in man. He produced Nun, predominant in smell, crowned, combined, and formed Scorpio in the world, Marcheshvan in the year, and the intestines in man. He produced Samech, predominant in sleep, crowned, combined, and formed Sagittarius in the world, Kislev in the year, and the stomach of man. He produced Ayin, predominant in Anger, crowned, combined, and formed Capricorn in the world, Tevet in the year, and the liver in man. He produced Tzadi, predominant in Taste, crowned, combined, and formed Aquarius in the world, Shevat in the year, and the gullet in man. He produced Qoph, predominant in Mirth, crowned, combined, and formed Pisces in the world, Adar in the year, and the spleen in man.
5:3
שלש אמות שהם שלשה אבות שמהם יצא אש ורוח ומים, שלש אמות ושבע כפולות ושנים עשר פשוטות:
Translation (this site)
Three mothers, which are three fathers, from which came forth fire, breath, and water; three mothers, seven doubles, and twelve simples.
Long Version (for comparison)
Three mothers, seven double and twelve simple, these are the twenty-two letters with which I H V H Tetragrammaton, that is our Lord of Hosts, exalted, and existed in the ages, whose name is Holy, created three fathers, fire and spirit and water, progressing beyond them, seven heavens with their armies of angels; and twelve limits of the universe.
5:4
אלו עשרים ושתים אותיות שבהם יסד הקב”ה יה יהוה צבאות אלהים חיים אלהי ישראל רם ונשא שוכן עד וקדוש שמו מרום וקדוש הוא:
Translation (this site)
These are the twenty-two letters with which the Holy One, blessed be He, founded His work: YAH, the LORD of Hosts, the living God, the God of Israel, exalted and lofty, dwelling forever, holy is His Name, high and holy is He.
Long Version (for comparison)
The Long Version presents this content together with 5:3 as one continuous passage (see above) rather than as two separate statements.
Chapter 6 — Summary and Avraham
6:1
שלשה אבות ותולדותיהן ושבעה כוכבים וצבאותיהן ושנים עשר גבולי אלכסונין וראיה לדבר עדים נאמנין עולם שנה נפש חק שנים עשר ושבעה ושלשה ופקידן בתלי וגלגל ולב. שלשה אש ומים ורוח אש למעלה ומים למטה ורוח חק מכריע בינתים וסימן לדבר האש נושא את המים. מ”ם דוממת שי”ן שורקת אל”ף חוק מכריע בינתים:
Translation (this site)
Three fathers and their generations, seven wandering stars and their hosts, and the twelve diagonal boundaries; and the proof of the matter is faithful witnesses: the world, the year, and the soul — a law of twelve, and seven, and three, and their overseers are the Dragon (Teli), the sphere (Galgal), and the heart (Lev). The three: fire, water, and breath. Fire above, water below, and breath the law deciding between them. And the sign of the matter: fire bears up the water. Mem is silent, Shin hisses, and Alef, the law, decides between them.
Long Version (for comparison)
In proof of these things, and witnessing faithfully are the Universe, the Year of time, and Man himself, the Microcosm. He fixed these as testimonies of the Triad, the Heptad, and the Dodecad; the twelve constellations rulers of the world, the Dragon (Tali) which environs the universe, and the microcosm, man. The triad, fire, water, and air; the fire above, the water below, and the air in the midst. The proof of which is that air is a participator with both.
6:2
תלי בעולם כמלך על כסאו. גלגל בשנה כמלך במדינה. לב בנפש כמלך במלחמה. גם את כל חפץ זה לעומת זה עשה האלהים. טוב לעומת רע. טוב מטוב ורע מרע. הטוב מבחין את הרע והרע מבחין את הטוב. טובה שמורה לטובים ורעה שמורה לרעים:
Translation (this site)
The Dragon in the world is like a king upon his throne. The sphere in the year is like a king in his province. The heart in the soul is like a king at war. And God has also made everything, one opposite the other: good opposite evil, good from good and evil from evil. The good discerns the evil, and the evil discerns the good. Goodness is reserved for the good, and evil is reserved for the wicked.
Long Version (for comparison)
Tali, the Dragon, is above the Universe, as a king on his throne; the sphere in the year as a king in his State, the Heart of man as a king in warfare. And our God made the states of opposition, good and evil, good from the good, and evil from the evil. Happiness is reserved for the just, and misery for the wicked ones.
6:3
שלשה כל אחד לבדו עומד. ז’ חלוקין שלשה מול שלשה וחק מכריע בינתים. שנים עשר עומדין במלחמה שלשה אוהבים שלשה שונאים שלשה מחיים שלשה ממיתים. שלשה אוהבים הלב והאזנים והפה. שלשה שונאים הכבד והמרה והלשון. ואל מלך נאמן מושל בכולן, אחד על גבי שלשה שלשה על גבי שבעה שבעה על גבי שנים עשר וכולן אדוקין זה בזה:
Translation (this site)
The three: each stands alone. The seven: divided, three against three, with the law deciding between them. The twelve stand at war: three that love, three that hate, three that give life, and three that bring death. The three that love: the heart, the ears, and the mouth. The three that hate: the liver, the gall bladder, and the tongue. And God, the faithful King, rules over them all — one over three, three over seven, seven over twelve, and all of them cling to one another.
Long Version (for comparison)
And out of the triad one stands apart; and in the heptad there are two triads, and one standing apart. The dodecad symbolizes war, the triad of amity, the triad of enmity, three which are life-giving, three which are death-dealing, and God, the faithful king, rules over all from the throne of his sanctity. One above three, three above seven, and seven above twelve, and all are linked together, and one with another.
6:4
וכיון שצפה אברהם אבינו ע”ה והביט וראה וחקר והבין וחקק וחצב וצרף וצר ועלתה בידו אז נגלה עליו אדון הכל ב”ה והושיבהו בחיקו ונשקו על ראשו וקראו אוהבי וכרת לו ברית ולזרעו והאמין בה’ ויחשבה לו צדקה. וכרת לו ברית בין עשר אצבעות רגליו והיא ברית המילה, ועשר אצבעות ידיו והוא הלשון. וקשר לו עשרים ושתים אותיות בלשונו וגלה לו את יסודן. משכן במים דלקם באש רעשן ברוח בערן בשבעה נהגם בשנים עשר מזלות:
Translation (this site)
And when Avraham our father, peace be upon him, gazed, looked, saw, investigated, understood, engraved, hewed, combined, and formed — and he succeeded — then the Master of All revealed Himself to him, and sat him in His lap, and kissed him upon his head, and called him “My beloved,” and made with him and his descendants a covenant, and he believed in the LORD, and it was counted to him as righteousness. And He made with him a covenant between the ten toes of his feet — this is the covenant of circumcision — and between the ten fingers of his hands — this is the tongue. And He bound the twenty-two letters onto his tongue, and revealed to him their foundation. He drew them through water, kindled them through fire, made them tremble through wind, set them ablaze through the seven stars, and guided them through the twelve constellations.
Long Version (for comparison)
After that our father Abraham had seen, and pondered over, investigated, and understood these things, he designed, engraved, and composed them, and received them into his power. Then the Lord of all appeared unto him, made a covenant with him, and kissed his head, and naming him after his own name, called him his friend; and as it is written, completed a covenant with him and with his seed forever, who then believed on God, the Tetragrammaton, and it was imputed to him for righteousness. God ordained a covenant between the toes of his feet, that of circumcision; and a covenant between the fingers of his hands, that of the Tongue. He bound the essences of the twenty-two letters on his tongue, and God disclosed to him the secrets of them. God has carried these through waters, He has borne them aloft through fire, and He has stamped them in the storms of the air; He has distributed them among the seven stars, and has assigned them to twelve celestial constellations. Amen.