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Ancient of the Ancient Ones!"
CHAPTER XVI. CONCERNING THE FIFTH PART OF THE BEARD OF MACROPROSOPUS. 84
KABBALA DENUDATA: THE KABBALAH UNVEILED
CHAPTER XVII. CONCERNING THE SIXTH PART OF THE BEARD OF
MACROPROSOPUS.
395. THE hair is arranged in the sixth conformation, and ascendeth from below upwards, and toucheth the
circles . of most excellent fragrance, even unto the beginning of the mouth above; and the hair descendeth
from the beginning (of the mouth above) unto the beginning of the opening of the mouth below. "Arise thou!
Rabbi Yisa, and expound this conformation."
396. Rabbi Yisa arose, and commenced, and said, Is. liv. 10: "'And thy blessing shall not depart from thee!'
397. "Also it is written: 'And in everlasting compassion have I had mercy upon thee.'
398. "Do not these verses contradict one another? They do not. For this is what we have learned: there is
given a compassion (of one kind), and again there is given a compassion of another kind. For the one is the
interior compassion, and the other is the external compassion.
399. "The interior compassion is that of which we have spoken concerning the Ancient of Days, and that is
concealed in this part of the heard, which is called the angle of the beard.
400. "Neither is it advisable for a man to destroy this part (of his beard) because of this interior compassion
of the Ancient of Days.
401. "And therefore is it written concerning the inferior priesthood, Lev. xxi. 5: 'They shall not make
baldness, upon their head, neither shall they shave off the angle of their beard.'
402. "Wherefore? Lest they should destroy the path of the Mercy of the Ancient One. For also the priesthood
is (symbolically) referred unto this path.
403. "Also we have learned in the 'Book of Concealed Mystery' that every work existeth in order that it may
procure increase for Mercy, and that it may establish the same; also that this is not to be cut off nor removed
from the world.
404. "This is that which is written: "And My Compassion shall not depart from thee.' Namely, the
Compassion of the Ancient of Days. 405. "(But when it is said in another text), 'And in mercy, OVLM,
Olahm, for ever (this is the sense), the mercy which is called 'mercy for ever' is the second form concerning
which it is written, Ps. lxxxix. 2: 'I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever.'
406. "And this compassion of the Ancient of Days is the mercy of truth. And (this phrase) 'mercy of truth' is
not said concerning the life of the body, but concerning the life of the soul.
407. "And therefore is it written, Mic. vii. 1:8: 'Since He Himself wisheth Mercy.' This is the sixth
conformation of the venerable beard of the Ancient of the Ancient Ones."
CHAPTER XVIII. CONCERNING THE SEVENTH PART OF THE BEARD OF
MACROPROSOPUS.
408. THE seventh conformation is that wherein the hair is wanting, and there appear two apples in the circles
of fragrance, fair and beautiful of aspect.
409. Rabbi Schimeon commenced, and said, Cant. ii. 3: "'Like as the apple-tree among the trees of the wood,
CHAPTER XVII. CONCERNING THE SIXTH PART OF THE BEARD OF MACROPROSOPUS. 85
KABBALA DENUDATA: THE KABBALAH UNVEILED
so is my beloved among the sons.'
410. "What is the apple-tree? Like as this in itself hath three colours, so do the two apples of the holy blessed
one contain six colours.
411. "And those two apples which are the seventh conformation include all the six conformations before
mentioned.
412. "And concerning them is that passage (to be taken in), Prov. xvi. 15 'In the light of the countenance of
the King is life.' 413. "Also we have learned that from those apples goeth forth the life of the universe, and it
giveth joy unto Microprosopus; like as it is written, Num. vi. 24: 'The Lord maketh His countenance to shine
upon thee.'
414. "And it is written: 'In the light of the countenance of the King is life.' 'In the light of the countenance of
the King.' Those are the two apples of the circles of fragrance of which we have spoken.
415. "'The Lord make His countenance to shine upon thee.' Here is understood the exterior countenance
which when it shineth blesseth the universe.
416. "And we have learned that whensoever those external lights shine He blesseth the whole world, and
wrath is no longer found in the universe.
417. "And if these externals (do this), how much more do these two apples, which ever shine, which ever are
joyful!
418. "This is a tradition, given forth without the city. 'When those two apples are disclosed, Microprosopus
appeareth in joy; for all those inferior lights are joyful; and all those inferiors shine; and all the worlds
rejoice, and are perfected in all perfection; and all things rejoice and shine, and no good thing is wanting; all
things are satisfied at once; all things rejoice together at the same time.
419. "Come, behold! The external countenance at times shineth, at times is obscured; and therefore is it
written: 'The Lord make His face to shine upon thee.' And, Ps. i.: 'And cause His face to shine upon us. Selah.'
420. "Whence (we learn), that it is not always (luminous ), but only when those superior apples are uncovered.
421. "This have we learned by tradition. 'Those hidden apples shine, and are ever brilliant; and from them
proceed rays in three hundred and seventy directions; and in them all the six (preceding) conformations of
the beard are included.'
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