חוֹבוֹת הַלְּבָבוֹת · שַׁעַר הַכְּנִיעָה · פֶּרֶק עֲשִׂירִי

אֲבָל תּוֹעֶלֶת הַכְּנִיעָה בְּעִנְיְנֵי הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְהָעוֹלָם הַבָּא הֵם שִׁשָּׁה דְּבָרִים: ג׳ מֵהֶם בְּעִנְיְנֵי העוה״ז, וּשְׁלֹשָׁה מֵהֶם בְּעִנְיְנֵי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.

Now, the benefits of submission in the matters of this world and the World to Come consist of six things: three of them pertain to the affairs of this world, and three of them pertain to the affairs of the World to Come.

אֶחָד מֵהֶם, שֶׁיִּשְׂמַח בְּחֶלְקוֹ; כִּי מִי שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה בּוֹ הַגַּאֲוָה וְהַגְּדֻלָּה, אֵין הָעוֹלָם וְכָל אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ מַסְפִּיק לוֹ לְכַלְכָּלָתוֹ, לְגֹבַהּ לִבּוֹ וּבְזוֹתוֹ מָה שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְחֶלְקוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ.

The first of them is that he will rejoice in his portion; for one who has been entered by pride and self-importance, the entire world and everything in it is not enough to sustain him, because of his haughty heart and his looking down with contempt on whatever has come to be his allotted portion.

וְכַאֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה נִכְנָע, אֵין לְנַפְשׁוֹ אֶצְלוֹ שׁוּם מַעֲלָה, וּמָה שֶׁמִּזְדַּמֵּן לוֹ מִן הָעוֹלָם הוּא מִסְתַּפֵּק בּוֹ לִמְזוֹנוֹתָיו וּלְסִפְקוֹ; וְזֶה יְבִיאֵהוּ לִמְנוּחַת נַפְשׁוֹ וּמִעוּט פַּחְדּוֹ.

But when a person is submissive, he does not attribute any special merit to himself, and whatever happens to come his way from this world, he is satisfied with it for his food and sustenance; and this brings him peace of mind and minimizes his worry.

יֹאכַל מָה שֶׁיִּזְדַּמֵּן לוֹ, וְיִלְבַּשׁ מָה שֶׁיִּמְצָא, וְיִישַׁן בַּאֲשֶׁר יִמְצָא, וְהַמְּעַט מִן הָעוֹלָם מַסְפִּיק לוֹ עִם כְּנִיעָתוֹ.

He will eat whatever is available, wear whatever he can find, and sleep wherever he can find a place, and even a tiny bit of this world is enough for him when coupled with his submission.

וְהַכַּת הָאַחֶרֶת הֵפֶךְ זֶה: וְאִם יַגִּיעוּ לְמָה שֶׁיַּגִּיעוּ, אֵין מַסְפִּיק לָהֶם; וְהַגֵּאֶה כֻּלּוֹ לֹא יְמַלֵּא מַחְסוֹרוֹ עִם גֹּבַהּ לִבּוֹ וְגַאֲוָתוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הֶחָכָם: "צַדִּיק אֹכֵל לְשֹׂבַע נַפְשׁוֹ, וּבֶטֶן רְשָׁעִים תֶּחְסָר".

But the other group is the exact opposite of this: even if they attain whatever they attain, it is never enough for them; and the proud man, even with the whole world, cannot satisfy his lack because of his haughty heart and arrogance, as the wise king said: "The righteous man eats to satisfy his soul, but the stomach of the wicked always feels want."

וְהַשֵּׁנִי, כִּי הַנִּכְנָע סוֹבֵל בְּעֵת בִּיאַת הַפְּגָעִים אֵלָיו וְהִתְהַפְּכוּת הָעִנְיָנִים עָלָיו, בַּעֲבוּר שִׁפְלוּתוֹ וּנְמִיכוּת רוּחוֹ.

The second benefit is that the submissive person patiently bears it when troubles befall him and when his circumstances turn upside down, because of his lowliness and humble spirit.

וְהַגֵּאֶה, פַּחְדּוֹ גָּדוֹל וְסִבְלוֹ מְעַט בְּעֵת בִּיאַת הַפְּגָעִים עָלָיו, מִפְּנֵי גֹּבַהּ נַפְשׁוֹ וְרוּם לְבָבוֹ וּמִעוּט רְצוֹנוֹ בְּעִנְיָנָיו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּמִי שֶׁהָיָה עַל הַדֶּרֶךְ הַזֶּה: "אֵיךְ נָפַלְתָּ מִשָּׁמַיִם הֵילֵל בֶּן שָׁחַר" וְגוֹ׳.

But for the proud man, his fear is immense and his endurance is minimal when troubles strike him, because of his inflated soul, his haughty heart, and his lack of acceptance of his situation, as was said regarding one who went on this path: "How have you fallen from heaven, morning star..."

וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי, כִּי הַנִּכְנָע יִהְיֶה מוֹצֵא חֵן יוֹתֵר בְּעֵינֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם, וְאָהוּב לָהֶם, וְקָרוֹב לְדַעְתָּם וּלְהִתְנַהֵג בְּמִנְהָגָם.

The third benefit is that the submissive person finds much more favor in the eyes of other people; he is beloved by them, and he easily gets along with them and accommodates himself to their ways.

וּכְבָר נֶאֱמַר עַל אֶחָד הַמְּלָכִים שֶׁהָיָה מְמַהֵר בַּהֲלִיכָתוֹ כְּשֶׁהָיָה הוֹלֵךְ, וְשָׁאֲלוּ אוֹתוֹ עַל עִלַּת הַדָּבָר, וְאָמַר: "לְפִי שֶׁהוּא יוֹתֵר רָחוֹק מִדֶּרֶךְ הַגַּאֲוָה, וְיוֹתֵר מְמַהֵר לְהַשְׁלָמַת הַחֵפֶץ".

It was already told of a certain king who used to walk with very quick steps; when they asked him the reason for this, he replied: "Because it keeps me furthest from the path of pride, and it gets me more quickly to fulfilling my purpose."

וְשָׁאֲלוּ אֶחָד מִן הַחֲכָמִים: "בַּמֶּה הָיִיתָ אָדוֹן לְכָל בְּנֵי דּוֹרְךָ?".

And they asked one of the Sages: "How did you merit to become the leader over all the people of your generation?"

אָמַר: "מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא פָּגַעְתִּי אֶחָד מֵהֶם שֶׁלֹּא רָאִיתִי לוֹ מַעֲלָה יְתֵרָה עָלַי.

He replied: "Because I never encountered a single one of them in whom I did not see some quality that made him greater than me.

כִּי אִם הָיָה יוֹתֵר חָכָם מִמֶּנִּי, הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר: הוּא יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים יוֹתֵר מִמֶּנִּי לְיִתְרוֹן חָכְמָתוֹ עַל חָכְמָתִי.

For if he was wiser than me, I would say: 'He must have more fear of Elokim than I do, because of the superiority of his wisdom over my wisdom.'

וְאִם קָטָן מִמֶּנִּי בַּחָכְמָה, אוֹמַר: כִּי חֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹ יִהְיֶה קַל מֵחֶשְׁבּוֹנִי בְּיוֹם הַדִּין, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֲנִי עוֹבֵר בְּמֵזִיד וְהוּא עוֹבֵר בְּשׁוֹגֵג.

And if he was lesser than me in wisdom, I would say: 'His accounting on the Day of Judgment will be lighter than my accounting, because my transgressions are committed knowingly, whereas his are committed in error.'

וְאִם יִהְיֶה גָּדוֹל מִמֶּנִּי בַּיָּמִים, אוֹמַר: כִּי זְכוּיוֹתָיו רַבּוֹת מִזְּכוּיוֹתַי, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁקְּדָמַנִי לָעוֹלָם.

And if he was older than me in years, I would say: 'His merits must be more numerous than my merits, because he preceded me into the world.'

וְאִם יִהְיֶה קָטָן מִמֶּנִּי, אוֹמַר: כִּי עֲוֹנֹתָיו מְעַטִּים מֵעֲוֹנֹתַי.

And if he was younger than me, I would say: 'His sins are fewer than my sins.'

וְאִם יִהְיֶה כָּמוֹנִי בַּיָּמִים וּבַחָכְמָה, אוֹמַר: אוּלַי לִבּוֹ לֵאלֹהִים טוֹב מִלִּבִּי, לְפִי שֶׁאֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ בְּמָה שֶׁקָּדַם לִי מִן הָעֲוֹנוֹת וְאֵינֶנִּי יוֹדֵעַ מָה שֶׁהָיָה מִמֶּנּוּ.

And if he was equal to me in years and in wisdom, I would say: 'Perhaps his heart is better directed toward Elokim than my heart, for I know the sins I have committed in the past, but I do not know what sins he has committed.'

וְאִם יִהְיֶה יוֹתֵר עָשִׁיר מִמֶּנִּי, אוֹמַר: כִּי מָצְאָה יָדוֹ בְּעָשְׁרוֹ לַעֲבֹד הַבּוֹרֵא וְלַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקוֹת וּהַעֲנִיק לַעֲנִיִּים יוֹתֵר מִמֶּנִּי.

And if he was wealthier than me, I would say: 'With his wealth, he has the means to serve the Creator, give tzedakah, and support the poor far more than I can.'

וְאִם יִהְיֶה דַּל יוֹתֵר מִמֶּנִּי, אוֹמַר: כִּי הוּא דַּכָּא וּשְׁפַל רוּחַ יוֹתֵר מִמֶּנִּי בַּעֲבוּר דַּלּוּתוֹ, וְהוּא טוֹב מִמֶּנִּי; וְלֹא זַזְתִּי לְכַבְּדָם כֻּלָּם וּלְהִכָּנַע לָהֶם".

And if he was poorer than me, I would say: 'He is surely more broken and humble in spirit than I am because of his poverty, and so he is better than me.' Thus, I never ceased to honor all of them and humble myself before them."

וְכֵן אָמְרוּ רז״ל: "וֶהֱוֵי דָּן אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם לְכף זְכוּת", "וֶהֱוֵי מְקַבֵּל אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם בְּסֵבֶר פָּנִים יָפוֹת".

And so our Sages of blessed memory said: "Judge every person favorably," and "Receive every person with a cheerful countenance."

וְאָמְרוּ: "מְאֹד מְאֹד הֱוֵי שְׁפַל רוּחַ".

And they said: "Be exceedingly, exceedingly humble of spirit."

וְאָמְרוּ: "יְהִי אָדָם רַךְ כַּקָּנֶה וְאַל יְהִי קָשֶׁה כָּאֶרֶז; לְפִיכָךְ זָכָה קָנֶה לַחְתֹּךְ מִמֶּנּוּ קֻלְמוֹס לִכְתֹּב בּוֹ ס״ת, תְּפִלִּין וּמְזוּזוֹת".

And they said: "A person should always be soft like a reed and not stiff like a cedar; therefore, the reed merited that a quill is cut from it to write Sifrei Torah, Tefillin, and Mezuzos."

וְהָרְבִיעִי, שֶׁהוּא בְּעִנְיְנֵי העוה״ב: כִּי הַנִּכְנָע קָרוֹב לְהַשִּׂיג הַחָכְמָה, בְּהִמָּשְׁכוֹ אַחֲרֵי הַחֲכָמִים וְהִכָּנְעוֹ לָהֶם וַהֲלִיכָתוֹ אֲלֵיהֶם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: "הוֹלֵךְ אֶת חֲכָמִים יֶחְכָּם".

The fourth benefit, which is in the matters of the World to Come, is that the submissive person is close to acquiring wisdom, because he draws close to the Sages, humbles himself before them, and goes to learn from them, as it is written: "He who walks with the wise will become wise."

וְאָמְרוּ רז״ל: "יְהִי בֵּיתְךָ בֵּית וַעַד לַחֲכָמִים, וֶהֱוֵי מִתְאַבֵּק בַּעֲפַר רַגְלֵיהֶם, וֶהֱוֵי שׁוֹתֶה בְצָמָא אֶת דִּבְרֵיהֶם".

And our Sages of blessed memory said: "Let your house be a meeting place for the Sages, sit in the dust of their feet, and drink in their words thirstily."

וְהָאֱלֹהִים יַעֲזֹר לוֹ עַל הַחָכְמָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: "יַדְרֵךְ עֲנָוִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּט, וִילַמֵּד עֲנָוִים דַּרְכּוֹ".

And Elokim will help him to attain wisdom, as it is written: "He guides the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way."

וּמִי שֶׁהוּא גְּבַהּ לֵב, לֹא תִּתְקַיֵּם בְּיָדוֹ חָכְמָה עַל אֲמִתָּתָהּ, וְלֹא יַגִּיעַ אֶל תַּכְלִית יְדִיעָה בְּרוּרָה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמִּתְנַשֵּׂא מִלֶּכֶת אֶל אַנְשֵׁי הַחָכְמָה וְהַתּוֹרָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: "רָשָׁע כְּגֹבַהּ אַפּוֹ בַּל יִדְרֹשׁ" וְגוֹ׳.

But as for one who is haughty of heart, true wisdom will not endure in his hand, and he will never reach the goal of clear knowledge, because he is too proud to go to the people of wisdom and Torah, as it is written: "The wicked, in his haughtiness, does not seek..."

וְהַחֲמִישִׁי, כִּי הַנִּכְנָע מְמַהֵר לְמַעֲשֵׂה הָעֲבוֹדָה בַּחֲרִיצוּת וּבִזְרִיזוּת, אֵינֶנּוּ מִתְגָּאֶה בָּהֶם, וְלֹא בּוֹזֶה שׁוּם דָּבָר מֵהֶם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַזַ״ל: "הֱוֵי זָהִיר בְּמִצְוָה קַלָּה כְּבַחֲמוּרָה".

The fifth benefit is that the submissive person hastens to perform the service of Hashem with diligence and alacrity; he does not become arrogant because of his deeds, nor does he look down on any of them, as our Sages of blessed memory said: "Be as careful with a light mitzvah as with a serious one."

וְהַמִּתְגָּאֶה בְּעַצְמוֹ מִתְאַחֵר מֵעֲשׂוֹת הָעֲבוֹדָה לְרוּם לְבָבוֹ וּלְגַסּוּת רוּחוֹ, וְאֵינֶנּוּ מַרְגִּישׁ עַד אֲשֶׁר יִפֹּל וְיִשָּׁפֵל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר: "אֱמֹר לַמֶּלֶךְ וְלַגְּבִירָה הַשְׁפִּילוּ שֵׁבוּ".

But the one who is proud of himself delays in performing the service because of his haughty heart and arrogance, and he does not realize this until he falls and is brought low, as the prophet said: "Say to the king and to the queen mother: Sit in a lowly place."

וְאָמַר: "שֶׁשׁ הֵנָּה שָׂנֵא ה׳", וְאָמַר: "עֵינַיִם רָמוֹת" וְגוֹ׳.

And it says: "These six things Hashem hates," and it lists: "Haughty eyes..."

וְהַשִּׁשִּׁי, כִּי מַעֲשֵׂה הַנִּכְנָע מְקֻבָּל אֵצֶל הָאֱלֹהִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר: "זִבְחֵי אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרָה".

The sixth benefit is that the deeds of the submissive person are accepted by Elokim, as it is written: "The sacrifices of Elokim are a broken spirit."

וַעֲוֹנוֹ נִמְחָל מְהֵרָה כְּשֶׁהוּא שָׁב מִמֶּנּוּ, כמ״ש: "וּמוֹדֶה וְעוֹזֵב יְרֻחָם".

And his sin is quickly forgiven when he repents from it, as it is written: "He who confesses and abandons them will find mercy."

וְנֶאֱמַר: "כִּי הִשְׁפִּילוּ וַתֹּאמֶר גֵּוָה, וְשַׁח עֵינַיִם יוֹשִׁעַ".

And it is written: "When they cast down, you will say, 'There is lifting up'; and He will save the humble person."

וְאֵלֶּה עֲשֶׂרֶת שָׁרְשֵׁי הַכְּנִיעָה, יִתְבָּאֵר לְךָ מֵהֶם, אָחִי, שְׁאָר מַעֲלוֹת הַמִּדָּה הַחֲשׁוּבָה הַזֹּאת הָעֶלְיוֹנָה הָרָמָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא זְכַרְתִּין בַּשַּׁעַר הַזֶּה.

From these ten roots of submission, my brother, the remaining qualities of this precious, lofty, and exalted trait—which I have not explicitly mentioned in this gate—will become clear to you.

וּזְכֹר מָה שֶׁהַעִירוֹתִיךָ עָלָיו מֵהֶם, וְשִׂימֶנּוּ נֶגֶד עֵינֶיךָ, וַחֲשֹׁב בּוֹ תָּמִיד, וְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל לִקְנוֹתוֹ, וּפָקְדֵהוּ עִם נַפְשְׁךָ וּמִדּוֹתֶיךָ תָּדִיר.

Remember what I have awakened you to regarding them, place it before your eyes, think about it constantly, strive to acquire it, and examine your soul and your character traits with it regularly.

וְהֵעָזֵר בֵּאלֹהִים עָלָיו, וּשְׁאַל אוֹתוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלָיו וּלְהַגִּיעַ לִרְצוֹנוֹ; אוּלַי יַיְשִׁירְךָ לוֹ וְיָכִין לְךָ הַדֶּרֶךְ אֵלָיו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמִּתְפַּלְּלִים הַחֲסִידִים אַחַר תְּפִלָּתָם: "אֱלֹהַי, נְצֹר לְשׁוֹנִי מֵרָע וּשְׂפָתַי מִדַּבֵּר מִרְמָה, וְלִמְקַלְלַי נַפְשִׁי תִּדֹּם, וְנַפְשִׁי כֶּעָפָר לַכֹּל תִּהְיֶה".

Seek the help of Elokim to achieve it, and ask Him for it so that you may draw close to Him and attain His favor; perhaps He will guide you straight to it and prepare the path to Him for you, just as the pious pray at the conclusion of their prayers: "My G-d, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deceit, and let my soul be silent to those who curse me, and let my soul be like dust to all."

וְהִזָּהֵר מֵהִרְהוּר לִבְּךָ וּפִתּוּיֵי הַיֵּצֶר לְךָ, בְּמָה שֶׁיְּבִיאֲךָ אֵלָיו מֵהַגֹּבַהּ וְהַגַּאֲוָה וְהַגָּאוֹן וּבַקָּשַׁת הַשְּׂרָרָה וְהַגְּדֻלָּה וְהַמֶּמְשָׁלָה.

And be on guard against the thoughts of your heart and the enticements of the yetzer hara, which would lead you to haughtiness, pride, arrogance, and the pursuit of authority, self-aggrandizement, and power.

וּכְבָר הִזְהִיר אָפְנֵי הַדֶּרֶךְ הַשָּׁוֶה לָאָדָם בָּעוֹלָם בְּאָמְרוֹ: "שְׁתַּיִם שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאִתָּךְ" וְגוֹ׳, "שָׁוְא וּדְבַר כָּזָב הַרְחֵק מִמֶּנִּי" וְגוֹ׳.

The wise king already cautioned us regarding the proper, balanced path for a person in this world when he said: "Two things I have asked of You... keep falsehood and lies far from me..."

וְאָמְרוֹ: "פֶּן אֶשְׂבַּע וְכִחַשְׁתִּי" וְגוֹ׳, "וּפֶן אִוָּרֵשׁ וְגָנַבְתִּי".

And his saying: "Lest I be full and deny You... or lest I be poor and steal."

הָקִיצָה, אָחִי, וְאַל תִּתְעַלֵּם לְרַפֵּא מַדְוֶה הַגַּאֲוָה מִנַּפְשְׁךָ וּמִמִּדּוֹתֶיךָ בָּרְפוּאוֹת אֲשֶׁר הוֹרֵיתִיךְ.

Awaken, my brother, and do not neglect to heal the disease of pride from your soul and your character traits with the remedies that I have shown you.

וְאַל יִמְנָעֲךָ מִזֶּה מָה שֶׁתִּרְאֶה עָלָיו הֲמוֹן בְּנֵי אָדָם מֵהִתְעַלֵּם לְרַפֵּא נַפְשׁוֹתָם מִן הַמַּדְוֶה, וְתֹאמַר: "יִמְצָאֵנִי מָה שֶׁיִּמְצָאֵם".

Do not let yourself be held back from this by seeing the masses of people neglecting to heal their souls of this disease, causing you to say: "Whatever happens to them will happen to me."

כִּי הָעִוֵּר, כְּשֶׁיִּזְדַּמְּנוּ לוֹ הַכְּחָלִים הַמוֹעִילִים שֶׁיּוּכַל לְהֵרָפֵא בָּהֶם כְּשֶׁהוּא מִתְעַסֵּק בָּהֶם, אֵין מִן הַזְּרִיזוּת שֶׁיִּתְאַחֵר מִזֶּה וְיֹאמַר: "יִמְצָאֵנִי מָה שֶׁיִּמְצָא חֲבֵרַי הָעִוְרִים".

For if a blind man is provided with effective eye-salves that can cure him if he applies them, it would not be wise for him to delay and say: "Whatever happens to my fellow blind men will happen to me."

וְאִלּוּ הָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶם שׁוֹמֵעַ אוֹתוֹ אוֹמֵר הַמַּאֲמָר הַזֶּה, הָיָה לוֹעֵג לְמַאֲמָרוֹ וּמְסַכֵּל עֲצָתוֹ.

If anyone were to hear him say such a thing, they would mock his words and consider his reasoning foolish.

וּכְפִי זֶה, עַיֵּן לְנַפְשְׁךָ, וְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל לָהּ בְּכָל כֹּחֲךָ, וְאַל תִּתְעַלֵּם מִמָּה שֶׁיּוֹעִילְךָ בעוה״ז ובעוה״ב, פֶּן תָּמוּת מִבְּלִי הַשָּׂגַת מַאֲוַיֶּיךָ מִן הַמַּעֲלוֹת הַחֲמוּדוֹת אֲשֶׁר בִּיכָלְתְּךָ לְהַשִּׂיגָן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הֶחָכָם: "תַּאֲוַת עָצֵל תְּמִיתֶנּוּ".

Therefore, look out for your own soul, strive for it with all your strength, and do not neglect what will benefit you in this world and the World to Come, lest you die without attaining your desire for those precious spiritual heights which were well within your power to reach, as the wise king said: "The desire of the lazy man kills him."

וְאָמַר: "עַל שְׂדֵה אִישׁ עָצֵל עָבַרְתִּי, וְעַל כֶּרֶם אָדָם חֲסַר לֵב" וּשְׁאָר הָעִנְיָן.

And he said: "I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a man lacking understanding..." and the rest of the passage.

וְהָאֱלֹהִים יוֹרֵנוּ וְאוֹתְךָ דֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתוֹ, בְּרַחֲמָיו וּבַחֲסָדָיו, אָמֵן.

May Elokim guide us and you on the path of His service, in His mercy and His kindness, Amen.

נִשְׁלַם שַׁעַר הַשִּׁשִּׁי. בַּה׳ תִּתְהַלֵּל נַפְשִׁי.

Completed is the Sixth Gate. In Hashem does my soul glory.