Chapter I

בידך אפקיד רוחי פדיתה אותי ד׳ א-ל אמת

"I entrust my spirit into Your hand; You will redeem me, L-rd, G-d of truth."1

The Midrash2 quotes R. Alexandri, who says: "When one entrusts his fellow with an object, even if he gives it to him when it is brand new, it will be returned to him in a tarnished condition. When, however, G-d is entrusted with the spirit of man, He is entrusted an object which is tarnished and weak, and He returns it fresh and healthy, as if it were brand new."

We observe this to be so in the case of an individual who puts in an extremely hard day's work. He goes to sleep exhausted and hurting all over, and entrusts G-d with his weakened and weary soul. Comes the morning and G-d returns his soul to him refreshed and reinvigorated, as if he were newborn. The verse is thus referring to waking up renewed and restored when it says "You will redeem me, L-rd, G-d of truth."

In truth, the very fact that a person "entrusts his spirit into G-d's hand" makes for a different result than entrusting another individual with an object. Even when the trustee receives a new object, he cannot be held responsible for the natural aging process which the object undergoes. G-d, however, is entrusted with something old and decrepit and returns it fresh and healthy.

There is yet another priceless quality in G-d's behavior. Should one commit even a small infraction against his fellow, he will become the object of his wrath and contempt. His fellow will not be bothered by the fact that a sin was committed, or that an injustice was done; he will only be bothered by the fact that it was done to him. When an opportunity arises to take revenge, he will seize it. This is especially true if an individual sins against a king, and even more so if his sin is serious in nature, such as rebelling against an important decree by doing something he should not have done or not doing something that he should have done. Even if the perpetrator goes into hiding, no effort will be spared to find him. When he is eventually caught, his punishment is meted out in the harshest manner possible.

How different it is with the Al-mighty! When a sinful person goes to sleep and entrusts G-d with his soul, his soul rises to a higher world. There, all manner of evil angels created by his sins want to take revenge on the sinner. G-d, however, takes pity on the sinner and protects him from the Angels of Retribution. This is the meaning of: "You will redeem me, L-rd, G-d of truth;" G-d with His attribute of mercy for G-d's Ineffable Name Havayah [mentioned in this verse] is the Divine name of mercy3 redeems the person.

G-d does this because He is a "G-d of truth:" He knows the truth of every matter, and realizes that the sinner may not be entirely responsible for his sin, as our sages say:4 "Much [evil behavior] is a result of evil friends."

G-d therefore waits for the sinner to realize the truth and repent.

In summary: Explains the meaning of "I entrust my spirit into Your hand." When a new object is entrusted to a person for safekeeping, the object will become older and weaker by the time it is returned. G-d is entrusted nightly with a deeply weary soul and a tired body, but each morning He returns a healthy body and an invigorated soul. "You will redeem me" refers to redemption from the Angels of Retribution which a person creates through his sins. [The L-rd is a] "G-d of Truth" G-d causes circumstances to arise that lead a sinner to understand the truth [and repent].