Sefer Yetzira (The Book of Creation), by Abraham Abinu
I. CHAPTER ONE.
1. In thirty-two mysterious paths of Wisdom, Yah, Eternal of Hosts [Yod-Vav-Yod], God of Israel,
Living Elohim, Almighty God, High and Extolled, Dwelling in Eternity, Holy Be His Name, engraved
and created His world in three Sefarim: in writing, number and word. Ten Sefirot out of nothing,
twenty-two foundation letters, three mothers, seven doubles and twelve simples.
2. Ten Sefirot out of nothing according to the number of the ten digits [fingers and toes], which
are five against five and a single covenant to be determined in the center. In word and tongue and
mouth, they are ten extending beyond limit: depth of beginning, depth of end, depth of good,
depth of evil, depth above and depth below, depth of east and depth of west, depth of north and
depth of south, and the sole Master and lofty King faithfully governs them all from his Holy dwelling
in Eternity forever.
3. Twenty-two foundation letters: three mothers, seven doubles and twelve simples. Three
mothers: Alef, Mem, Shin: their basis is a scale of innocence and a scale of guilt and a tongue
ordained to balance between the two. Seven doubles: Bet, Gimel, Dalet, Kaf, Peh, Resh, Tav. Their
foundation is life and peace, wisdom and wealth, fruitfulness, grace and government. Twelve
simples: He, Vav, Zayin; Chet, Tet, Yod; Lamed, Nun, Samech; Ayin, Tsadeh, Qof. Their
foundation is seeing, hearing, smelling, swallowing, copulating, acting, walking, raging, laughing,
thinking, and sleeping.
4. By means of these media, Yah, Eternal of Hosts, God of Israel, Living Elohim, Almighty God,
High and Extolled, Dwelling in Eternity, Holy Be His Name traced out [carved] three fathers and
their posterity, seven conquerors and their hosts, and twelve diagonal boundaries. The proof of
this is revealed in the universe, the year, and the soul, which rule ten, three, seven and twelve.
Over them rule Tali (the dragon), the wheel, and the heart.
II. Chapter Two.
1. Ten Sefirot out of nothing. Ten and not nine, ten and not eleven. Understand in Wisdom and be
wise in Understanding. Examine them, investigate them, think clearly and form. Place the word
above its creator and reinstate a Creator upon His foundation; and they are ten extending beyond
limit. Observe them: they appear like a flash. Their boundary has no limit for His word is with
them: "and they ran and returned." And they pursue His saying like a whirlwind [vortex]; and they
prostrate themselves [bend] themselves before His throne.
2. Twenty-two foundation letters: three mothers, seven doubles, and twelve simples. Three
mothers: Alef, Mem, Shin: a great mystery, concealed, marvelous and magnificent whence emerge
fire, wind [air, spirit, breath] and water, whence everything was created. Seven doubles: Bet,
Gimel, Dalet, Kaf, Peh, Resh, Tav, which are to be pronounced in two tongues: Bet, Vayt, Gimel,
Ghimel, Dalet, Dhalet, Kaf, Khaf, Peh, Feh, Resh, Rhesh, Tav, Thav, a pattern of hard and soft,
strong and weak. The doubles represent the contraries [syzygies]. The opposite of life is death, the
opposite of peace is evil [or 'harm'], the opposite of wisdom is foolishness, the opposite of wealth
is poverty, the opposite of fruitfulness is barrenness, the opposite of grace is ugliness, the
opposite of dominion is slavery.
3. Seven doubles: Bet, Gimel, Dalet, Kaf, Peh, Resh, Tav. Seven and not six, seven and not eight.
Six sides in the six directions, and the Holy Palace [Heikhal] ruling in the center. Blessed is the
Eternal [Yod-Vav-Yod] in His dwelling. He is the place of the universe and the universe is not His
place.