For there are two similar firmaments, one at the beginning and one at the end of the series of eight. The top one is the eighth firmament, the one in which there are set all the lesser and the greater stars. It is the undisclosed upper firmament which upholds the totality of things and from which all existence flows. This is the eighth firmament counting from below, and is thus the top one and the starting-point from which all things receive their existence.
Correspondingly there is an eighth firmament counting from above, in which also are set all stars and lights and lamps. This firmament supports the whole and forms the end of the whole. Thus the top firmament and the end firmament are of the same pattern, forming together the river that flows on perennially so that the end is already enclosed in the beginning.
There is, however, a difference between the two firmaments, for while the upper one sustains and nourishes the upper world in which it is set and all those upper sides, the lower firmament sustains and nurtures the lower world and all those lower sides.
It may be asked, what is meant here by the “upper world”, seeing that the upper eighth firmament, which is hidden and undiscoverable, is itself the upper world and is so called? But the truth is that while it itself forms the upper world proper, all those that emanate from it are also designated by that name. It is the same with those that emanate from the lower world, they also being designated by its name. Yet all of them form one unity. Blessed be He for ever and ever!
תָּא חֲזֵי, תְּרִין רְקִיעִין אִינוּן, וְאִינוּן שֵׁירוּתָא וְסִיּוּמָא, דָּא כְּגַוְונָא דָא. שֵׁירוּתָא רְקִיעָא תְּמִינָאָה, בֵּיהּ שְׁקִיעָן כָּל כֹּכְבַיָא, זְעִירִין וְרַבְרְבִין. וְדָא הוּא רְקִיעָא עִלָּאָה סְתִימָאָה, דְּקָאִים כֹּלָּא וּמִנֵּיהּ נָפִיק כֹּלָּא. וְאִיהוּ תְּמִינָאָה, מִתַּתָּא לְעֵילָא, וְהוּא שֵׁירוּתָא לְאֲפָקָא מִנֵּיהּ כֹּלָּא.
For there are two similar firmaments, one at the beginning and one at the end of the series of eight. The top one is the eighth firmament, the one in which there are set all the lesser and the greater stars. It is the undisclosed upper firmament which upholds the totality of things and from which all existence flows. This is the eighth firmament counting from below, and is thus the top one and the starting-point from which all things receive their existence.
כָּךָ אִיהוּ רְקִיעָא תְּמִינָאָה מֵעֵילָא לְתַתָּא, דְּבֵיהּ שְׁקִיעִין כָּל כֹּכְבַיָא, כָּל נְהוֹרִין וּבוֹצִינִין. וְהוּא נָטִיל כֹּלָּא וְדָא סִיּוּמָא דְכֹלָּא. כְּמָה דְהַהוּא רְקִיעָא תְּמִינָאָה, דְּאִיהוּ שֵׁירוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא. תַּלְיָין בֵּיהּ כָּל נְהוֹרִין וְנָטִיל לוֹן, וּמִנֵּיהּ נָפְקֵי. הָכִי נָמֵי הַאי, אִיהוּ רְקִיעָא תְּמִינָאָה, תַּלְיָין בֵּיהּ כָּל נְהוֹרִין וְנָטִיל לוֹן, וּמִנֵּיהּ נָפְקוּ לְכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין.
Correspondingly there is an eighth firmament counting from above, in which also are set all stars and lights and lamps. This firmament supports the whole and forms the end of the whole. Thus the top firmament and the end firmament are of the same pattern, forming together the river that flows on perennially so that the end is already enclosed in the beginning.
שֵׁירוּתָא וְסִיּוּמָא כְּגַוְונָא חַד קָיְימֵי, וְעַל דָּא אִיהוּ נָהָר דְּנָגִיד וְנָפִיק, וְלָא פָּסְקֵי מֵימוֹי לְעָלְמִין. כֹּלָּא לְמֶהוֵי סִיּוּמָא כְּשֵׁירוּתָא, וּבְגִין כָּךְ וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָם אֱלֹהִים בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם, וְלָמָּה, לְהָאִיר עַל הָאָרֶץ.
Hence it says: “And God set them in the firmament of heaven.” For what purpose? “To give light upon the earth.”
וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּאִתְּמָר כֹּלָּא כְּגַוְונָא חָדָא קָיְימֵי, וְדָא הוּא בְּרִירָא דְמִלָּה, מַה בֵּין הַאי לְהַאי. אֶלָּא, דָּא אוֹקִים וְזָן לְעַלְמָא עִלָּאָה דְּאִיהוּ בֵּיהּ וּלְכָל אִינוּן סִטְרִין עִלָּאִין, וְדָא אוֹקִים וְזָן לְעַלְמָא תַּתָּאָה וּלְכָל אִינוּן סִטְרִין תַּתָּאִין.
There is, however, a difference between the two firmaments, for while the upper one sustains and nourishes the upper world in which it is set and all those upper sides, the lower firmament sustains and nurtures the lower world and all those lower sides.
וְאִי תֵימָא, עַלְמָא דִלְעֵילָא מַאן אִיהוּ, וְהָא (איהו) הַהוּא רְקִיעָא תְּמִינָאָה עִלָּאָה סְתִימָאָה, עַלְמָא דִלְעֵילָא אִיהוּ וְהָכִי אִקְרֵי, דְּהָא תְּרֵין עָלְמִין נִינְהוּ כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר. אֶלָּא, אִיהוּ עַלְמָא עִלָּאָה, וְכָל אִינוּן דְּנָפְקֵי מִנֵּיהּ, עַל שְׁמֵיהּ אִקְרוּן. וְאִינוּן דְּנָפְקֵי מֵעַלְמָא תַּתָּאָה, עַל שְׁמֵיהּ אִקְרוּן. וְכָל הַאי וְהַאי כֹּלָּא חַד, בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמִין.
It may be asked, what is meant here by the “upper world”, seeing that the upper eighth firmament, which is hidden and undiscoverable, is itself the upper world and is so called? But the truth is that while it itself forms the upper world proper, all those that emanate from it are also designated by that name. It is the same with those that emanate from the lower world, they also being designated by its name. Yet all of them form one unity. Blessed be He for ever and ever!