על שינוי השמות כ״דOn the Change of Names 24
א׳
1[137] So, too, the wisdom which as in motherhood brought forth the nature of the self-taught declares that God had begotten it. For when the child is born she says with pride, “The Lord has made laughter for me” (Gen. 21:6). That is the same as saying “He formed, He wrought, He begot, Isaac,” since Isaac and laughter are the same.
ב׳
2[138] But this saying is not for all to hear, so strongly does the evil tide of superstition flow in our minds and drown unmanly and degenerate souls. And therefore she adds “Whoever shall hear will rejoice with me” (ibid.) as though there were few whose ears are opened and pricked up to receive these holy words, which teach us that to sow and beget the excellent is the peculiar task of God alone. To this lesson all but those few are deaf.
ג׳
3[139] I remember too an oracle given by a prophet’s mouth in words of fire which runs thus: “From Me thy fruit has been found. Who is wise and he shall understand them, who is understanding and he shall know them?” (Hos. 14:9, 10). Under the prophet’s words I recognized the voice of the invisible master whose invisible hand plays on the instrument of human speech, and I was lost in admiration at the saying also.
ד׳
4[140] For all that is good in the range of existing things or rather the whole heaven and universe is in very truth God’s fruit, the inseparable growth, as it were, of the tree of His eternal and never-fading nature. And to know and confess such things is for the wise and understanding, not for men of no account.