Kabbalah Library

21. “The guards who went about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me. The keepers of the walls took my veil away from me.” How beloved is the soul that is placed under the throne, and comes from the place of holiness, from the lands of the living, as it is written, “I will walk before the Lord in the lands of the living.”

22. Why did David call them “the lands of the living”? Are there lands above? Not actually lands, and not in the sense of lands did David say this verse. Rather, it is a term of appeasing, as it is written, “I will appease you.”

That is, David said, “I will walk before the Lord in a place that the righteous,” who are called living, “always want,” that their desire and will is to go there. The lands of the living is the place that the living, who are the righteous, want. The soul comes from the place of the holiness to shine on the dark body in order to lead it on a straight path and to do its work, and do its Creator’s will, so as to come the next day and receive reward.

23. Rabbi Yehuda said, “It would be better for us if we were not in the world, and would not have to answer to the owner of the book, since all our actions are written in the book.” Afterwards, he said, “I regret my words.”’

24. It is written about Adam, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helpmate against him.” This is the soul, who is a helpmate in him to lead him in the ways of his possessor. It is as we learn, “He who comes to be purified is aided.” When a person walks in the ways of his possessor, many help him: His soul helps him; the ministering angels help him; the Creator’s Shechina helps him; and everyone declares before him and say, “When you walk, your steps will not be narrowed, and if you run, you will not stumble.” The souls of the righteous help him.