## Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God

###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:1
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:1)

אֲבָל אֵיךְ הַדֶּרֶךְ אֶל אַהֲבַת הָאֱלֹהִים יִתְבָּרַךְ אוֹמַר בִּתְשׁוּבַת שְׁאֵלָה זֹאת,

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
What is the way to attaining love of G-d? I answer this question as follows:


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:2
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:2)

כִּי הַבַּקָּשָׁה הַזֹּאת לֹא תִּתָּכֵן לַשּׁוֹאֵל אֶלָּא אַחַר הַקְדָּמוֹת רַבּוֹת וְכַאֲשֶׁר תִּתְקַיֵּמְנָה הַהַקְדָּמוֹת תִּתְיַלֵּד מֵהֶם הָאַהֲבָה בֵּאלֹהִים יִתְבָּרַךְ אֲבָל מִי שֶׁמְּכַוֵּן אֵלֶיהָ בְּעַצְמָהּ לֹא יוּכַל לְהַגִּיעַ אֵלֶיהָ.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
This request is not possible for the seeker without many prerequisites. When the prerequisites are fulfilled, there will emerge from them the love of G-d. But one who has intent to it directly will not reach it.


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:3
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:3)

וְהַהַקְדָּמוֹת אֲשֶׁר רָאוּי לַמַּאֲמִין לְהַקְדִּים לָהּ בְּנַפְשׁוֹ הֵם שְׁנֵי יִחוּדֵי הַלְּבָבוֹת וּשְׁתֵּי כְּנִיעוֹת וּשְׁנֵי חֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹת וּשְׁתֵּי בְּחִינוֹת.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
The prerequisites which it is proper for the believer to first acquire in his soul are: two types of unity of heart, two types of humility, two types of spiritual accountings, and two types of examinations.


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:4
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:4)

אֲבָל שְׁנֵי יִחוּדֵי הַלְּבָבוֹת –

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
The two types of unity [of heart]:


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:5
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:5)

אֶחָד מֵהֶם לְיַחֵד הַלֵּב בְּיִחוּד הַבּוֹרֵא.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
1) Wholeheartedly acknowledgment of the Creator's unity.


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:6
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:6)

וְהַשֵּׁנִי לְיַחֵד הַמַּעֲשֶׂה לִשְׁמוֹ וּלְעָבְדוֹ לִכְבוֹדוֹ בִּלְבַד.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
2) Wholehearted devotion of all of his acts to Him, and to serve Him for His honor's sake alone.


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:7
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:7)

אֲבָל שְׁתֵּי הַכְּנִיעוֹת –

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
The two types of humility:


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:8
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:8)

אַחַת מֵהֶן הַכְּנִיעָה לֵאלֹהִים יִתְעַלֶּה

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
1) Humility before G-d


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:9
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:9)

וְהַשֵּׁנִית הַכְּנִיעָה לְיִרְאֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וּבְחִירָיו.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
2) Humility before the G-d fearing (who turn away from bad), and those who choose in Him.


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:10
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:10)

אֲבָל שְׁנֵי הַחֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹת –

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
The two types of spiritual accountings:


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:11
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:11)

אֶחָד מֵהֶם חֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹ עִם נַפְשׁוֹ עַל מָה שֶׁחַיָּב לֵאלֹהִים לְהַתְמָדַת טוֹבוֹתָיו.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
1) To make a spiritual accounting with oneself on what one owes to G-d in return for His continuous benefits.


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:12
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:12)

וְהַשֵּׁנִי חֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹ עִם נַפְשׁוֹ עַל הַסְתִּירוֹ עֲוֹנֹתָיו וְהַאֲרִיכוֹ לוֹ וּמְחִילָתוֹ.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
2) To make a spiritual accounting with oneself for G-d's hiding of his sins, and withholding (punishment) from him for a long time, and His forgiving.


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:13
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:13)

אֲבָל שְׁתֵּי הַבְּחִינוֹת –

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
The two types of examinations:


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:14
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:14)

אַחַת מֵהֶם הַבְּחִינָה בְּמָה שֶׁעָבַר לָרִאשׁוֹנִים בְּעָמְדוֹ עַל סִפְרֵי הַנְּבִיאִים וְדִבְרֵי הַקַּדְמוֹנִים ע״ה כמ״ש (תהלים קמג) זָכַרְתִּי יָמִים מִקֶּדֶם וְגוֹ׳.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
1) Reflecting on what happened to the early ones, by studying the books of the prophets, and the books of the early ones, as written: *"I remember the days of yore; I meditate over all Your works"* (Tehilim 143:5).


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:15
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:15)

וְהַשֵּׁנִית הַבְּחִינָה בָּעוֹלָם בְּמָה שֶׁהוּא רוֹאֶה מִפִּלְאֵי הַבּוֹרֵא ית׳ בִּבְרִיאוֹתָיו. וּכְבָר בֵּאַרְתִּי בְּסֵפֶר זֶה כְּלָלִים מִן הָעִנְיָן הַזֶּה כְּפִי יְכָלְתִּי מָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ דַּי לְמִי שֶׁמֵּבִין וּמְכַוֵּן לְמָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ הַצָּלָתוֹ וְהִמָּלְטוּ בעוה״ז ובעוה״ב.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
2) Reflecting on the world, wherein one sees some of the wonders of the Creator exhibited in His creations. I have already clarified in this book, some general principles in this subject, according to my ability, what is sufficient for one who understands and intends for what leads to his deliverance and salvation in this world and in the next.


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:16
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:16)

וְכַאֲשֶׁר יְתַקֵּן כָּל זֶה וִיחַבֵּר אֵלָיו הַפְּרִישׁוּת מִתַּעֲנוּגֵי הָעוֹלָם וְתַאֲווֹתָיו וְיָבִין גְּדֻלַּת הַבּוֹרֵא וְעַצְמוּתוֹ וַאֲמִתּוּתוֹ וְרוֹמְמוּתוֹ וְיַשְׂכִּיל קַטְנוּת עֵרֶךְ נַפְשׁוֹ וּזְעִירוּתוֹ וְזֻלּוּתוֹ ואח״כ יַכִּיר רַב טוּב הַבּוֹרֵא עָלָיו וְגֹדֶל חַסְדּוֹ עִמּוֹ, אָז תִּהְיֶה הָאַהֲבָה בֵּאלֹהִים מִן הַמַּאֲמִין סְמוּכָה לָזֶה בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם וַאֲמִתּוּת זֹךְ נַפְשׁוֹ וְהִכָּסְפוֹ לוֹ בְּהִשְׁתַּדְּלוּת וַחֲרִיצוּת וּזְרִיזוּת דּוֹמֶה לְמַה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיהו כ״ו:ח׳) נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַּיְלָה וְאָמַר (שם) לְשִׁמְךָ וּלְזִכְרְךָ תַּאֲוַת נָפֶשׁ וְאָמַר (תהלים מב) צָמְאָה נַפְשִׁי לֵאלֹהִים.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
When one will fulfill all of these and combine them with abstinence from the pleasures and lusts of this world, and he understands the greatness of the Creator, His might and exaltedness, reflects how small is his own worth, how puny and lowly he is, and he comes to realize the great benevolence of the Creator on him, and His great kindness with him - then the love of G-d from the believer will come, with a perfect heart and with genuine purity of soul, and a longing for G-d that will be with exertion, zeal, and passion, similar to what was said: *"With my soul have I yearned for You in the night"* (Yeshaya 26:9), and *"the desire of our soul is to Your Name, and to the remembrance of You"* (Yeshaya 26:8), and *"My soul thirsts for You"* (Tehilim 63:2), and *"My soul thirsts for G-d"* (Tehilim 42:3).


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:17
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:17)

וְהֶחָזָק שֶׁבַּדְּבָרִים שֶׁתֵּעָזֵר בָּהֶם עַל הַמַּדְרֵגָה הַזֹּאת הָעֶלְיוֹנָה הוּא:

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
And the most powerful things which aid in reaching this exalted level are:


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:18
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:18)

הַמּוֹרָא הַגָּדוֹל מֵאֱלֹהִים,

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
* Great awe of G-d


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:19
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:19)

וְהָאֵימָה מִמֶּנּוּ,

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
* Dread of Him


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:20
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:20)

וְהַפַּחַד מִמִּצְוֹתָיו,

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
* Fear of His commandments


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:21
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:21)

וְהַמַּחְשָׁבָה תָּמִיד בְּהַשְׁקָפָתוֹ עַל סִתְרְךָ וּגְלוּיְךָ וּמַצְפּוּנְךָ וְנִרְאֲךָ וְהַנְהָגָתוֹ אוֹתְךָ וְחֶמְלָתוֹ עָלֶיךָ וְדַעְתּוֹ הַנִּסְתָּר וְהַנִּגְלֶה בֶּעָבָר וּבֶעָתִיד מִמַּעֲשֶׂיךָ וּמַחְשְׁבֹתֶיךָ וְהַבְטָחָתוֹ לְךָ וְהַקְרָבָתוֹ אוֹתְךָ.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
* A constant awareness that He contemplates your hidden and revealed, your inner and outer life, and that He is guiding you, and has compassion on you, and that He knows all of your thoughts and deeds which you did in your past and will do in the future, and that He has promised to you, and has drawn you close to Him.


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:22
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God 3:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God/r/3:22)

וְלֹא תּוּכַל עִם כָּל זֶה לַעֲמֹד מִנְּטוֹת אֵלָיו בְּלִבְּךָ וּבְמַצְפּוּנְךָ בְּבֹר לֵבָב וּבֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה. וְתִתְלֶה נַפְשְׁךָ בְּאַהֲבָתוֹ וְתִבְטַח עַל חֶמְלָתוֹ וְגֹדֶל חִנּוֹתָיו וְרַחֲמָיו, וְלֹא תִּשְׁתַּתֵּף בָּעֵת הַהִיא עִם אַהֲבָתוֹ אַהֲבַת זוּלָתוֹ וְלֹא יַשְׁקִיף עָלֶיךָ שֶׁאַתָּה יָרֵא עִם יִרְאָתְךָ מִמֶּנּוּ בִּלְתּוֹ וְלֹא תִּפְקְדֵהוּ מֵרַעְיוֹנֶיךָ וְלֹא יָסוּר מִנֶּגֶד עֵינֶיךָ וְיִהְיֶה צִוּוּתְךָ בַּבְּדִידוּת וְיֵשֵׁב עִמְּךָ בַּמִּדְבָּרוֹת וְיִהְיֶה מָקוֹם מָלֵא בְּנֵי אָדָם בְּעֵינֶיךָ כְּלֹא מָלֵא וְהָרֵיק מֵהֶם כְּלֹא רֵיק לֹא תִּשּׁוֹמֵם בְּהִפָּקְדָם וְלֹא תִּדְאַג בְּהֵעָדְרָם וְתִהְיֶה תָּמִיד שָׂמֵחַ בֵּאלֹהֶיךָ שָׂשׂ בְּבוֹרַאֲךָ עָלֵז בִּרְצוֹנוֹ וְכוֹסֵף לִפְגִיעָתוֹ כמ״ש (שם סד) יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק בַּה׳ וְחָסָה בוֹ וְאָמַר הַנָּבִיא (חבקוק ג׳:י״ח) וַאֲנִי בַּה׳ אֶעְלוֹזָה אָגִילָה בֵּאלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי וְאָמַר דָּוִד עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם (תהלים כז) ה׳ אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי מִמִּי אִירָא וּשְׁאָר הַמִּזְמוֹר:

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
With all of this, you will not be able to refrain from turning to Him in your heart and in your inner being, with a pure heart and a perfect faith, and you will cling to love of Him, and trust on His compassion, His great grace and His mercy. You will not associate love of Him with love of anyone else. And He will not observe you and see in you fear of something else besides Him. You will never find Him absent in your thoughts, and He will never depart from being opposite your eyes. Your companionship will be in solitude, and He will dwell with you in the deserts. A place full of people will seem in your eyes as if it is not full (that their matters will not frighten you - shinui nusach), and a place empty of them will seem as if it's not empty. You will not feel lonely when they are gone nor worry in their absence You will always be rejoicing with your G-d, delighting to be with your Creator, seeking His favor, and longing for His visitation, as written: *"The righteous will rejoice with G-d and take refuge in Him"* (Tehilim 64:11), and the prophet said: *"Yet, I will rejoice in the L-ord; I will jubilate in the G-d of my salvation"* (Chavakuk 3:18), and David said: *"G-d is my light and salvation, from who shall I fear"* (Tehilim 27:1), and the rest of the Psalm.