Sefer Yetzirah (The Book of Formation)

Chapter I opens by stating that JAH, the Lord of Hosts, engraved his name in thirty-two paths of wisdom and created the universe by three Sepharim: Number, Writing, and Speech. It presents ten numbers (Sephiroth) and twenty-two letters—three mothers, seven double, twelve simple—as the foundation of all things. It describes the ten numbers as formed from nothing, seen in the fingers, and insists they are ten, not nine or eleven. The Sephiroth are called ineffable, scintillating like flames, infinite. The text names the first as the Spirit of the Living God, the second Air with twenty-two letters, third Primitive Water, fourth Fire (forming a throne with Auphanim, Seraphim, Holy Animals, and Angels). God seals the six directions with permutations of the letters I H V. Chapter II treats the twenty-two letters, uttered in five situations of the mouth, arranged on a sphere with two hundred and thirty-one gates, and states God made something from nothing. Chapter III assigns the three mothers A, M, SH to Air, Water, Fire, and maps them onto world, year, and man. Chapter IV treats the seven double letters (Beth, Gimel, Daleth, Kaph, Pe, Resh, Tau) as opposites, dimensions, planets, days, and orifices; a supplement assigns each to a planet, day, and facial feature. Chapter V lists the twelve simple letters, their properties, directions, zodiac signs, months, and organs, with a supplement pairing each letter to a sign, month, and body part. Chapter VI presents the Universe, Year, and Man as witnesses, introduces Tali the Dragon, and describes Abraham perceiving these things, whereupon the Lord makes a covenant with him, kisses his head, and calls him his friend. An appendix, "The Thirty-Two Paths of Wisdom," names and describes each of the thirty-two Intelligences in order.