essed)
thought, and concerning the secret thoughts of thy couch.

Wherefore? Because "a bird of the air shall carry the voice." Which
(voice) as yet is unexpressed.

Assuredly this is the true meaning. Whatsoever a man thinketh and
meditateth in his heart, he maketh not a word until he bringeth it forth
with his lips. (What the text intendeth is) if any man attendeth not
hereunto.

For that voice sent forward (from inconsiderate thought) cleaveth the air,
and it goeth forth and ascendeth, and is carried around through the
universe; and therefore is the voice.

And the Lords of Wings receive the voice and bear it on unto the King
(Microprosopus), so that it may enter into His ears.

This is that which standeth written, Deut. v. 28, "And Tetragrammaton hath
heard the voice of your words." Again, Num. xi. 1, "And Tetragrammaton
heard, and His wrath was kindled."

Hence every prayer and petition which a man poureth forth before God the
Most Holy One--blessed be He!--requireth this, that he pronounce the words
with his lips.

For if he pronounce them not, his prayer is no prayer, and his petition is
no petition.

But as far as the words go forth, they cleave the air asunder, and ascend,
and fly on, and from them is the voice made; and that which receiveth the
one receiveth also the other, and beareth it into the Holy Place in the
head of the King (otherwise, beneath Kether, the Crown).

From the three cavities (of the brain of Microprosopus) distilleth a
certain distillation, and it is called the Brook. As it is said in 1 Kings
xvii. 3, "The brook Kherith," as it were an excavation or channel of the
ears.

And the voice entereth into that curved passage, and remaineth in that
brook of that distillation.

And then is it therein detained, and examined, whether it be good or
whether it be evil. This is the same which is said, Job xxxiv. 3, "Because
the ear examineth the words."

For what cause doth the ear examine the words? Because the voice is
detained in that brook distilling into the curved passage of the ears, and
doth not swiftly enter into the body, and thereunto is an examination
instituted between the good and the evil.

"As the palate tasteth meat." Wherefore can the palate taste meat? Because
in the same manner it causeth it to delay, and (the meat) doth not enter
so rapidly into the body. And hence (the palate) proveth and tasteth it
(to discern) whether it be sweet and pleasant.

From this openin