Letter to Shabbetai Tzvi

Indeed, in order to do the will of my Father who is in heaven, I came in fear, trembling and trepidation, with a bow of my head and a prostration of my body, “spreading out my arms and my legs” [b. Megillah 22b]. I will fall at the feet of the splendor of the “gazelle,” the hosts of Israel,¹ and I know that I will not be ashamed, for my loins were aroused with the vitality of God; I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I did not refrain my lips (Psalms 40:10). My master, you have known that this action was from your hand, which put His words in my mouth to announce good tidings to the meek . . . to bind up the broken hearted (Isaiah 61:1). He is my witness and my testimony, that there is not a word of deceit upon my tongue. I am one of those who are insulted but do not insult in return; all my words are true, they are not fabricated. I have sworn by the Lord, righteousness has come out of my mouth in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation (Psalms 111:1), by receiving afflictions and the oaths of Torah in order to affirm this principle: The Messiah of the God of Israel and Judah, our master Shabbetai “was designated to Him, and was redeemed” [see Exodus 21:8]. The Master of the universe has crowned him, has placed His hand on him above each and every thing. Then I said, behold, I have come forth with the scroll of a book that was written about him [see Psalms 40:8], maintaining that he is the redeemer and that there is none other than him. These are clear words that enlighten like sapphires, expressly and not mysteriously, in righteousness and not in unfaithfulness. Concerning this, too, the eye of my intellect opened, I swore by the life of the Lord in truth and in righteousness, and this shall not be a stumbling block or an offense [see 1 Samuel 25:31] for me, driving me away to a place that is empty and void, and waste (Nahum 2:11), to be like the things that swarm on the earth, such as the turtle, the mouse and the lizard [see Leviticus 11:29–30]. What will treasures of wickedness profit, if one sins in rebellion and crime for no reason? I shall be wicked and a poisonous striped lizard, abominable and despicable, like chaff and like a leaf driven away by the wind [see Psalms 1:4], conceiving mischief and bringing forth falsehood (Psalms 7:15), embracing dunghills like a pecking rooster, for the sake of piling on destruction. And the dove does not find rest at his feet, for his eyes are like doves on the horizon of injustice, standing on its ankles, forever in exile.

And although my brethren, from the house of Israel, have dealt deceitfully like a stream (Job 6:15), thrown fishing nets over me, as well as burning coal, oppressed me and stupefied me, and they have set me up as a target for an arrow, I have set my face like a flint (Isaiah 50:7), and I will not budge from my prophecy. Though He slay me, yet will I trust [ayaḥel] Him (Job 13:15), and I will not profane [aḥel] His words. For he is a precious corner stone, like the corner of oil and honeycomb, a sure foundation, a tried stone (Isaiah 28:16). The Lord tries the righteous (Psalms 11:5); he that believes shall not make haste (Isaiah 28:16). Like the heretic, who denies the essential principles, if He tarries, I shall wait for Him until He answers me from His celestial abode. And His redeemer will come from above him and pitch his tent, a tent that shall not be taken down; its pegs shall not be removed forever (Isaiah 33:20). Their lifeblood is dashed against His garments [see Isaiah 63:3], a clear spirit upon the high hills. My beloved will come red [see Isaiah 63:2] and clear, and those who fear the Lord and think upon His name [see Malachi 3:16] will be accepted before Him like a crown on the [High Priest’s] head.