Chesbon Nefesh

(39) Of what shall a living person complain? Each one of their own sins! (40) Let us search and examine our ways, And turn back to the LORD; (41) Let us lift up our hearts with our hands To God in heaven: (42) We have transgressed and rebelled, And You have not forgiven. (43) You have clothed Yourself in anger and pursued us, You have slain without pity. (44) You have screened Yourself off with a cloud, That no prayer may pass through.

Raba (another version : Rab Hisda) said : Should a person see sufferings come upon them, let one scrutinize one's actions; as it is said, "Let us search and try our ways, and return unto the Lord" (Lam. iii. 40). If one has scrutinized one's actions without discovering the cause, let one attribute them to neglect of Torah; as it is said, "Happy is the person whom Thou chastenest, and teachest out of Thy law" (Ps. xciv. 12). If one attributed them to neglect of Torah without finding any justification, it is certain that one's sufferings are chastenings of love; as it is said, "For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth" (Prov. iii. 12).

(1) It is a positive commandment from the Torah to cry out and to sound trumpets for all troubles that come upon the community, as it is said, "upon an enemy who attacks you and you sound trumpets (Numbers 10:9)." That is to say, every matter that troubles you like famine, plague, locusts, and so forth, cry out because of them and sound the trumpets.

(2) And this is part of the process of Repentance. That at the time when a calamity befalls a community and they cry out and sound trumpets, they should know that this is all because of their bad actions that this evil has befallen them. As it is written, "Your sins have turned away these things..." (Jeremiah 5:25) And it is this (God) that causes them to turn the suffering from upon them.

(4) "In the beginning of God's creating..." - Six things preceded the creation of the world; some of them were created and some of them were decided to be created. The Torah and the Throne of Glory were created. How do we know the Torah was? As it says (Proverbs 8:22): "God made me at the beginning of his way." How do we know the Throne of Glory was? As it says (Psalms 93:2): "Your throne is established as of old etc." The Patriarchs, Israel, the Temple, and the name of the Messiah were decided to be created. How do we know the Patriarchs were? As it says (Hosea 9:10): "Like grapes in the wilderness etc." How do we know Israel was? As it says (Psalms 74:2): "Remember your congregation, whom you purchased from old." How do we know the Temple was? As it says (Jeremiah 17:12): "Your throne of glory, on high from the beginning etc." How do we know the name of the Messiah was? As it says (Psalms 72:17): "May his name exist forever etc. [his name shall be Yinnon as long as the sun]." Rabbi Ahavah said in the name of Rabbi Ze'ira: Even repentance was, as it says (Psalms 90:2): "Before the mountains were birthed," and at the same time (Psalms 90:3), "You turned man to contrition etc."

Abbai said : We have a tradition that a good person does not become bad. They does not ? Behold it is written, "But when the righteous turneth away from their righteousness and committeth iniquity" (Ezek. xviii. 24)! That refers to a person who was originally wicked; but the person who is originally righteous does not. One does not? Behold there is a Mishnaic teaching : "Trust not in thyself until the day of thy death" ; and Johanan the High Priest held the Office of High Priest for eighty years and eventually became a Sadducee !