29. “Nun entered etc.” The letter nun entered [and] said before Him: Master of the world! It is good for You to create the world with me, as with me it is stated: “Awesome [nora] in praise” (Exodus 15:11). Likewise, it is written with regard to the praise of the righteous: “Praise [na’ava] is lovely” (Psalms 147:1). He said her: Nun, return to your place, for because of you the letter samekh returned to her place, and rely on her support**.** That is, the nun is inscribed in the word nefila [falling], and the samekh, which is the mystical meaning of “the Lord supports all those who fall” (Psalms 145:14), returned to her place on their account, to support them. She immediately returned to her place and departed from before Him.

Explanation: Having seen that the letter samekh was rejected because she is used only in immaturity, i.e., solely for support, as stated, the nun thought to herself that she is certainly worthy of the creation of the world, since she possesses all the qualities of the samekh, and in addition she also serves [in the phase of] the brains of maturity. For this reason, [nun] does not have the deficiency on account of which the samekh was rejected. This is the meaning of the statement: “As with me it is stated: ‘Awesome [nora] in praise.’” The Gevura of Ze’er Anpin is called nun, because [this Gevura] was entirely tempered with the attribute of mercy of the Bina, which is called “fifty [nun] gates of Bina.” On account of this Gevura, the Ze’er Anpin is called “awesome in praise,” since Imma Ila'ah¹ of Bina (Abba and Imma Ila'in). is called “praise,” and because this Gevura [of Ze'er Anpin] is drawn from Bina, [Ze'er Anpin] is called “awesome in praise.” This nun of Ze’er Anpin serves in Yesod of Ze’er Anpin in the phase of maturity, during the pairing [between Ze'er Anpin] and its Nukba, at which point the Nukba is called “praise” as well, like Imma Ila'ah, on account [of Ze'er Anpin]. Thus, the Ze’er Anpin is united as one in both the upper praise and the lower praise.

footnotes: ¹ This refers to one aspect of the first three sefirot

[Rav Hamnuna] thus says: “Nun entered etc. as with me it is stated: ‘Awesome [nora] in praise.’” Because of this [fact] that I am in the aspect of Gevura and the left line of Ze’er Anpin, I draw [the light of giving] that emerge from the letter samekh, which is the upper praise. The result is that Ze’er Anpin is called “awesome in praise” on my account, as stated. Therefore, I have all the qualities of the samekh, since the [the light of giving] that is drawn by her are the first three [sefirot of Bina] and they repel the external forces from [having] any purchase, exactly like the quality of the samekh. In addition, I possess another quality: “The praise of the righteous: ‘Praise [na’ava] is lovely, ’” for I serve in the Yesod of Ze’er Anpin in [the phase of] maturity. This is as stated with regard to the letter **tzadi, where it is said that [tzadi] was a letter nun with the letter yod atop her; see there thoroughly. This nun is considered the praise of the righteous, since as explained there, even during the time of maturity, when the Ze’er Anpin and Nukba ascend to Abba and Imma Ila'in, this nun still serves in the Yesod of Ze’er Anpin in the form of back-to-back.² However, [the nun] draws pure air from Abba and Imma Ila'in, which are the mystical meaning of the aforementioned samekh. Then the nun is called “praise of the righteous,” since the yod, which represents “the righteous is the foundation [Yesod] of the world” (Proverbs 10:25), rides atop her. [The nun] is then called “praise is lovely,” as she draws the brains of maturity to Malkhut. Thus, all the beauty of Malkhut is received from the nun in Yesod of Ze’er Anpin. This is why the nun claimed that she is worthy for the world to be created with her, since through her illumination the brains of maturity were also added, which provide Ze’er Anpin and Nukba independent existence and durability, and not only through the aspect of support, like the samekh.

footnotes: ² "Back-to-back" refers to a lower state and level of brains in the vessel.

“He said her: Nun, return to your place, for because of you, samekh returned to her place.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to her: It is not as you consider your attribute [to be fitting for] the complete rectification, that there would be no more purchase for the kelippot. Rather, your attribute also requires support from the samekh, since you are still in a state of back-to-back, and the lights of the samekh are exposed outwards to guard you from the external forces. Thus, the letter samekh returned to her place on your account as well, to support you, and this is not yet the complete rectification, and therefore the world will not be created with you. This is the meaning of “and rely on her,” i.e., your attribute is also only support [and not complete independence].