For when a man is about to be born into the world the angel Gabriel wrestles with the dust of which man is formed, and inculcates into the potential man seventy languages, which, however, he retains not when he enters into this world, since the evil impulse wipes them out from his mind, so that the battle between the conflicting principles begins even before the man is born.
Before all this, there are four angels which descend with him if he comes of pious stock. One of the four angels will be Michael, in remembrance of Abraham; one Gabriel, in remembrance of Isaac; one Nuriel, in remembrance of Jacob; and one Raphael, in remembrance of Adam; and the good impulse hovers over him.
But if he himself is unworthy and possesses no heritage of righteousness to assist him, four powers of evil shall be his companions when he enters into this world, namely, Anger, Destruction, Depravity, and Wrath; and the evil impulse hovers over him to become his judge in the world to come. This explains the aforesaid saying, that, “the wicked is judged by the evil inclination, the righteous by the good, and the intermediate by good and evil mingled”. In the case of the last-mentioned, Gabriel, who represents the good impulse, and Samael, who represents the evil, become his judges.
For every man who is compounded of the four elements is accompanied by four angels on his right hand and four on his left, those already named; and from the side of his body Metatron presses close to him at the right and Samael at the left.
Now all men are formed of the four elements, but on the order in which these elements are found-that is, the order of the planets with which each man is connected-depends the order of the angels who accompany him, and also the potential characteristics of the man. Thus, if his ruling planet be the Lion, Michael will lead, and be followed by Gabriel, and after him Raphael, and lastly Nuriel. If, however, his planet is the Ox, first comes Gabriel, then Michael, then Nuriel, then Raphael. If the Eagle be the planet by which he is influenced, Nuriel will be first, then Michael, followed first by Gabriel and then by Raphael. And should his planet be Man, then will Raphael lead, with Michael, Gabriel and Nuriel coming after in the order named.
Now all aspects of Michael are of the attribute of mercy. A man whose leading angel is Michael will be benevolent, he will be pious and wise; but all this applies only if he is a student of the Torah, for if he is not so he will be the very reverse of all this, since he will be formed after the evil inclination; he will be stupid and unfeeling, without benevolence or worth-for no ignorant man can be truly pious.
Should a man be from the side of Gabriel, his attributes will all partake chiefly of the quality of justice: he will stand up courageously against the wicked; he will prevail over his own evil inclinations, will abhor sin and cleave unto all things righteous, and he will become a judge by profession; but again, all this will only come to pass if he study the Torah with diligence and attain proficiency; should he neglect this, he will be as strong in iniquity as otherwise in holiness; he will rejoice in the tribulations of the righteous; he will be hard in his condemnations, bold in evildoing, with no fear of sin; he will have a red face, and will be of the type of Esau-a blood-shedder.
He whose planet is the Eagle possesses neither the attribute of mercy nor that of justice in a marked degree, but is either moderately good or moderately bad, as his good or evil inclination obtains influence over him, as his countenance reveals, red and white being blended therein.
He who is under the guidance of the planet Man combines in himself- in so far as he derives his characteristics from the good side-all the good qualities: he is wise and pious, strong in intellectual apprehension, sin-fearing, full of excellent virtues; and the colour of his countenance is dark. But if he is governed by the principle of evil, he will be full of bad qualities.
Now if a man’s evil actions predominate, all the (angelic) hosts of the good prompting will leave him and those of the evil prompting obtain control, and Samael will become completely master of him and ruler over all the members of his body-Samael and his whole band.
On the other hand, should his good actions be plentiful, all his evil concomitants will be removed, and his good inclinations permeate his whole being, so that the powers of holiness may obtain entire sway over him and the holy name TETRAGRAMMATON will rule over him.
Should he by nature belong to the class of intermediaries, the heavenly hosts will be ranged at his right hand and on his left, the one side accusing and the other defending, and his ultimate salvation or destruction will depend on the relative strength of these conflicting celestial hosts, for whichever wins will claim him, be it for justice or for mercy. Therefore it has been said that man should always imagine that the fate of the whole world depends upon him.
Now he who emanates from the side of Michael is called “firstborn”. Michael’s grade is white silver, and therefore the redemption of the firstborn is silver: five sel ‘as, according to the numerical value of the letter he’ in Abraham. Should such a man be successful in the study of the Torah, then a letter yod is added to him, which symbolizes holiness: for with the numerical value of yod-namely ten- the firstborn of cattle had to be redeemed. And when a man shall have reached this degree of holiness, then the words “Israel is holy to the Lord” (Jer’ II, 3) can indeed be applied to him.
Now all the supernal holy beings (hayoth) are called according to the letters of the Holy Name, as it is written, “Every one that is called by my name, I have created him for my glory, I have formed him, yea, I have made him” (Isa. 43, 7). And not only these celestial creatures themselves, but also all lesser creatures created through the instrumentality of these holy beings are stamped with this name in order that it may proclaim Him who created it. The Yod is the symbol of the head of all creatures- the two He,s represent the five fingers of the right hand and the left; the Vau is the symbol of the body.
וְקֹדֶם דְּיֵיתֵי בַּר נָשׁ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא וְיִפּוּק מֵרֶחֶם אִמֵיהּ, וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ, דָּא גַּבְרִיאֵל, בְּהַהוּא אָבָק דְּעָפָר, דְּאִתְּמַר (בראשית ב׳:ז׳) וַיִּיצֶר יְיָ' אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם עָפָר מִן הָאֲדָמָה, וְאוֹלִיף לֵיהּ שִׁבְעִים לָשׁוֹן. וּבְגִין דָּא, וַיִּיצֶר: חַד יֵצֶר הַטּוֹב, דְּאוֹלִיף לֵיהּ שִׁבְעִים לָשׁוֹן. וְחַד, יֵצֶר הָרָע דְּאָבִיק עִמֵּיהּ. דְּאִתְּמַר, כִּי נָגַע בְּכַף יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב בְּגִיד הַנָּשֶׁה, וְאַשְׁכַּח מִנֵיהּ שִׁבְעִין לָשׁוֹן, דְּאוֹלִיף לֵיהּ יֵצֶר הַטּוֹב.
For when a man is about to be born into the world the angel Gabriel wrestles with the dust of which man is formed, and inculcates into the potential man seventy languages, which, however, he retains not when he enters into this world, since the evil impulse wipes them out from his mind, so that the battle between the conflicting principles begins even before the man is born.
וְקֹדֶם כָּל דָּא, נַחְתִּין עִמֵּיהּ אַרְבְּעָה מַלְאָכִין, דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן (תהילים צ״א:י״א) כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָךְ. אִי אִית לֵיהּ זְכוּת אָבוֹת, חַד מִיכָאֵל, בִּזְכוּת אַבְרָהָם. וְתִנְיָינָא גַּבְרִיאֵל, בִּזְכוּת יִצְחָק. וּתְלִיתָאָה דְּנָחִית עִמֵּיהּ נוּרִיאֵל, בִּזְכוּתָא דְּיַעֲקֹב. וּרְבִיעָאָה רְפָאֵל, בִּזְכוּתָא דְּאָדָם קַדְמָאָה. וְיֵצֶר הַטּוֹב לְעֵילָּא מִנֵּיהּ.
Before all this, there are four angels which descend with him if he comes of pious stock. One of the four angels will be Michael, in remembrance of Abraham; one Gabriel, in remembrance of Isaac; one Nuriel, in remembrance of Jacob; and one Raphael, in remembrance of Adam; and the good impulse hovers over him.
וְאִי לֵית לֵיהּ זְכוּת, אַזְלֵי עִמֵּיהּ ד', עָוֹן, מַשְׁחִית, אַף, וְחֵימָה, וְיֵצֶר הָרָע לְעֵילָּא מִנַיְיהוּ, לְמֵידָן לֵיהּ לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי. וּבְגִין דָּא אוּקְמוּהָ, רָשָׁע, יֵצֶר הָרָע שׁוֹפְטוֹ. צַדִּיק, יֵצֶר הַטּוֹב שׁוֹפְטוֹ. בֵּינוֹנִי, זֶה וְזֶה שׁוֹפְטוֹ. וּבְגִין דָּא, אִי אִיהוּ בֵּינוֹנִי, גַּבְרִיאֵל דְּאִיהוּ יֵצֶר הַטּוֹב, וְסַמָאֵ"ל דְּאִיהוּ יֵצֶר הָרָע, זֶה וְזֶה שׁוֹפְטוֹ.
But if he himself is unworthy and possesses no heritage of righteousness to assist him, four powers of evil shall be his companions when he enters into this world, namely, Anger, Destruction, Depravity, and Wrath; and the evil impulse hovers over him to become his judge in the world to come. This explains the aforesaid saying, that, “the wicked is judged by the evil inclination, the righteous by the good, and the intermediate by good and evil mingled”. In the case of the last-mentioned, Gabriel, who represents the good impulse, and Samael, who represents the evil, become his judges.
דִּלְכָל בַּר נָשׁ דְּאִית בֵּיהּ אַרְבַּע יְסוֹדִין, אַרְבַּע מַלְאָכִים נַחְתִּין עִמֵּיהּ מִימִינָא, וְאַרְבַּע מִשְּׂמָאלָא. אַרְבַּע מִימִינָא: מִיכָאֵ"ל, גַּבְרִיאֵ"ל, רְפָאֵ"ל, נוּרִיאֵ"ל. וְאַרְבַּע מִשְּׂמָאלָא: עָוֹ"ן, מַשְׁחִי"ת, אַ"ף, וְחֵמָ"ה. מִסִּטְרָא דְּגוּפָא, מְטַטְרוֹ"ן נָחִית עָלֵיהּ מִימִינָא, וְסָמָאֵ"ל מִשְּׂמָאלָא.
For every man who is compounded of the four elements is accompanied by four angels on his right hand and four on his left, those already named; and from the side of his body Metatron presses close to him at the right and Samael at the left.
וְלֵית בַּר נָשׁ דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ אַרְבַּע יְסוֹדִין, אֲבָל כְּפוּם יְסוֹדָא דְּאַקְדִּים בֵּיהּ, הָכִי מַתְחִילִין אִלֵּין אַרְבַּע. אִי מַזָּל דִּילֵיהּ אַרְיֵ"ה, אַקְדִּים מִיכָאֵ"ל, וַאֲבַתְרֵיהּ גַּבְרִיאֵ"ל וַאֲבַתְרֵיהּ נוּרִיאֵ"ל, וַאֲבַתְרֵהּ רְפָאֵ"ל. וְאִי מַזָּלֵיהּ שׁוֹר, אַקְדִּים גַּבְרִיאֵ"ל, וַאֲבַתְרֵיהּ מִיכָאֵ"ל, וַאֲבַתְרֵיהּ נוּרִיאֵ"ל, וַאֲבַתְרֵיהּ רְפָאֵ"ל. וְאִי מַזָּלֵיהּ נְשֶׁר, אַקְדִּים נוּרִיאֵ"ל, וַאֲבַתְרֵיהּ מִיכָאֵ"ל, וַאֲבַתְרֵיהּ גַּבְרִיאֵ"ל, וַאֲבַתְרֵיהּ רְפָאֵ"ל. וְאִי מַזָּלֵיהּ אָדָ"ם. אַקְדִּים רְפָאֵ"ל, וַאֲבַתְרֵיהּ מִיכָאֵ"ל, וַאֲבַתְרֵיהּ גַּבְרִיאֵ"ל, וַאֲבַתְרֵיהּ נוּרִיאֵ"ל.
Now all men are formed of the four elements, but on the order in which these elements are found-that is, the order of the planets with which each man is connected-depends the order of the angels who accompany him, and also the potential characteristics of the man. Thus, if his ruling planet be the Lion, Michael will lead, and be followed by Gabriel, and after him Raphael, and lastly Nuriel. If, however, his planet is the Ox, first comes Gabriel, then Michael, then Nuriel, then Raphael. If the Eagle be the planet by which he is influenced, Nuriel will be first, then Michael, followed first by Gabriel and then by Raphael. And should his planet be Man, then will Raphael lead, with Michael, Gabriel and Nuriel coming after in the order named.
וְאִינּוּן מִסִּטְרָא דִּימִינָא, מִסִּטְרָא דְּמִיכָאֵל, כֻּלְּהוּ אַנְפִּין דִּילֵיהּ, אִינּוּן רַחֲמֵי, בַּעַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים, אַנְפּוֹי חִוָּורִין, וְהַאי בַּר נָשׁ גָּמִיל חֶסֶד. חָסִיד, וְחָכָם, אִי אִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. וְאִי לָאו, בְּהִפֻּךְ, מִסִּטְרָא דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע, גַּזְלָן, טִפֵּשׁ, לֵית בֵּיהּ חֶסֶד. דְּלָא עַם הָאָרֶץ חָסִיד.
Now all aspects of Michael are of the attribute of mercy. A man whose leading angel is Michael will be benevolent, he will be pious and wise; but all this applies only if he is a student of the Torah, for if he is not so he will be the very reverse of all this, since he will be formed after the evil inclination; he will be stupid and unfeeling, without benevolence or worth-for no ignorant man can be truly pious.
מִסִּטְרָא דְּגַבְרִיאֵל, אַרְבַּע אַנְפִּין דִּילֵיהּ דִּינָא, מִדַּת הַדִּין עַל רַשִׁיעַיָּא, וּמִתְגָּרֶה בְּהוּ, כְּמָה דְּאוּקְמוּהָ, מוּתָּר לְהִתְגָּרוֹת בָּרְשָׁעִים בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה. גִּבּוֹר בְּיִצְרֵיהּ, יְרֵא חֵטְא, דַּיָּין יְהֵא, אִי יִתְעַסֵּק בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְגִבּוֹר בְּתַלְמוּדֵיהּ. בְּהִפּוּכָא מִסִּטְרָא דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע, מִתְגָּרֶה בְּצַדִּיקַיָּא, דִּינָא קָשֶׁה לוֹן, גִּבּוֹר בַּעֲבֵירָה, לְמֶעְבַּד לֵיהּ, לָאו דָּחִיל חַטָּאָה הוּא, וּגְוָונִין דְּאַנְפּוֹי סוּמָקִין, עֵשָׂו שׁוֹפֵךְ דָּמִים.
Should a man be from the side of Gabriel, his attributes will all partake chiefly of the quality of justice: he will stand up courageously against the wicked; he will prevail over his own evil inclinations, will abhor sin and cleave unto all things righteous, and he will become a judge by profession; but again, all this will only come to pass if he study the Torah with diligence and attain proficiency; should he neglect this, he will be as strong in iniquity as otherwise in holiness; he will rejoice in the tribulations of the righteous; he will be hard in his condemnations, bold in evildoing, with no fear of sin; he will have a red face, and will be of the type of Esau-a blood-shedder.
מַאן דְּמַזָּלֵיהּ נְשֶׁ"ר, לָאו רַחֲמָן סַגִּי, וְלָאו מִדַּת הַדִּין סַגִּי, אֶלָּא בֵּינוֹנִי, בְּיֵצֶר טוֹב בְּמִדֹּת טָבִין דִּילֵיהּ, וּבֵינוֹנִי בְּיֵצֶר רָע בְּמִדּוֹת בִּישִׁין, וְלֵיהּ אַנְפִּין חִוָּורִין וְסוּמָקִין.
He whose planet is the Eagle possesses neither the attribute of mercy nor that of justice in a marked degree, but is either moderately good or moderately bad, as his good or evil inclination obtains influence over him, as his countenance reveals, red and white being blended therein.
מַאן דְּמַזָּלֵיהּ אָדָם, מִסִּטְרָא דְּטוֹב, כָּלִיל מִכָּל מִדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת, חָסִיד, וְחָכָם, וְגִבּוֹר בַּתּוֹרָה, יְרֵא חֵטְא, מְמוּלָּא בְּכָל מִדּוֹת טָבִין, וּגְוָון אַנְפּוֹי אוּכָּמִין. וּמִסִּטְרָא דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע, מְמוּלָּא מִכָּל מִדּוֹת בִּישִׁין.
He who is under the guidance of the planet Man combines in himself- in so far as he derives his characteristics from the good side-all the good qualities: he is wise and pious, strong in intellectual apprehension, sin-fearing, full of excellent virtues; and the colour of his countenance is dark. But if he is governed by the principle of evil, he will be full of bad qualities.
וְאִי חוֹבוֹי דְּבַר נָשׁ, נְפִישִׁין שַׁלְטִין עָלֵיהּ כָּל מַשִׁרְיָין דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע, עַד דְּיִסְתְּלָקוּ מִנֵיהּ כֻּלְּהוּ מַשִׁרְיָין דְּיֵצֶר טוֹב, וְאַמְלִיךְ עַל אֵבָרִין דִּילֵיהּ, סָמָאֵ"ל וְכָל מַשִּׁרְיָיתֵיהּ.
Now if a man’s evil actions predominate, all the (angelic) hosts of the good prompting will leave him and those of the evil prompting obtain control, and Samael will become completely master of him and ruler over all the members of his body-Samael and his whole band.
וְאִי נְפִישִׁין זַכְווֹי, שַׁלְטִין מַשִׁרְיָין דְּיֵצֶר הַטּוֹב, עַד דְּיִסְתְּלָקוּ מִנֵּיהּ כָּל מַשִׁרְיָין דְּיֵצֶר הָרָע. וְאַמְלִיךְ עַל כָּל אֵבָרִין דִּילֵיהּ, מַשִׁירְיָין דְּיֵצֶר הַטּוֹב, בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא, שָׁלִיט עָלֵיהּ שֵׁם יְדוָ"ד.
On the other hand, should his good actions be plentiful, all his evil concomitants will be removed, and his good inclinations permeate his whole being, so that the powers of holiness may obtain entire sway over him and the holy name TETRAGRAMMATON will rule over him.
וְאִם הוּא בֵּינוֹנִי, צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם עוֹמְדִים עָלָיו מִימִינוֹ וּמִשְּׂמֹאלוֹ, אִלֵּין מַיְימִינִים לִזְכוּת, וְאִלֵּין מַשְׂמְאִילִים לְחוֹבָה, וּמַאן דְּאָלִים גָּבַר. וּבְגִין דָּא אוּקְמוּהָ מָארֵי מַתְנִיתִין, לְעוֹלָם יִרָאֶה אָדָם עַצְמוֹ כְּאִילּוּ כָּל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ תָּלוּי בּוֹ.
Should he by nature belong to the class of intermediaries, the heavenly hosts will be ranged at his right hand and on his left, the one side accusing and the other defending, and his ultimate salvation or destruction will depend on the relative strength of these conflicting celestial hosts, for whichever wins will claim him, be it for justice or for mercy. Therefore it has been said that man should always imagine that the fate of the whole world depends upon him.
וּמִסִּטְרָא דְּמִיכָאֵל, אִתְקְרֵי בְּכוֹר, דְּדַרְגֵּיהּ כֶּסֶף חִוָּורוּ, וּבְגִין דָּא, פִּדְיוֹן הַבְּכוֹר כֶּסֶף, ה' סְלָעִים, כְּחוּשְׁבָּן ה' דְּאַבְרָהָם, דְּאִי יַחְכִּים בַּתּוֹרָה יִתּוֹסַף עָלֵיהּ י', דְּאִיהוּ קֹדֶשׁ, דְּבֵיהּ צָרִיךְ לְקַדֵּשׁ בְּכוֹר בְּהֵמָה, דְּהַיְינוּ (ירמיה ב) קֹדֶשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַיְיָ'. וּבֵיהּ צָרִיךְ לְעַשֶּׂר וְלָדוֹת, דְּכָל וָלָד אִיהוּ מִסִּטְרָא דְּבֶן י"ה, וְאִיהוּ ו'.
Now he who emanates from the side of Michael is called “firstborn”. Michael’s grade is white silver, and therefore the redemption of the firstborn is silver: five sel ‘as, according to the numerical value of the letter he’ in Abraham. Should such a man be successful in the study of the Torah, then a letter yod is added to him, which symbolizes holiness: for with the numerical value of yod-namely ten- the firstborn of cattle had to be redeemed. And when a man shall have reached this degree of holiness, then the words “Israel is holy to the Lord” (Jer’ II, 3) can indeed be applied to him.
דְּכָל חֵיוָן דְּאִינּוּן חֵיוַת הַקּוֹדֶשׁ, בְּאַתְוָון דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא אִתְקְרִיאוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, (ישעיהו מ״ג:ז׳) כֹּל הַנִּקְרָא בִשְׁמִי וְלִכְבוֹדִי בְּרָאתִיו. אֲפִילּוּ כָּל בִּרְיָין דְּאִתְבְּרִיאוּ בְּהוֹן, וְלֵית בְּרִיאָה דְּלָא אִתְרְשִׁים בְּהַאי שְׁמָא, בְּגִין לְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָא לְמַאן דִּבְּרָא לֵיהּ, וְהַאי יוֹ"ד, אִיהוּ דִּיּוּקְנָא דְּרֵישָׁא דְּכָל בִּרְיָין. ה' ה': דִּיּוּקְנָא דְּה' אֶצְבְּעָאָן דִּימִינָא, וְה' דִּשְׂמָאלָא. ו' דִּיּוּקְנָא דְּגוּפָא.
Now all the supernal holy beings (hayoth) are called according to the letters of the Holy Name, as it is written, “Every one that is called by my name, I have created him for my glory, I have formed him, yea, I have made him” (Isa. 43, 7). And not only these celestial creatures themselves, but also all lesser creatures created through the instrumentality of these holy beings are stamped with this name in order that it may proclaim Him who created it. The Yod is the symbol of the head of all creatures- the two He,s represent the five fingers of the right hand and the left; the Vau is the symbol of the body.