Rabbi Shimon said, come and see! [It says:] "Better is a poor and wise child..." (Ecclesiastes 4:13) Who is a "poor child"? It has been explained, and we learned he is the Good Inclination. But [a deeper explanation of the verse] "better is a child" is as it is written: "I was a youngster, I also aged" (Psalms 37:25) [which the Sages taught refers to Meta-tron, the ruler of the world.] This is a youngster who is a poor child and owns nothing [except what he receives from malchut] And why is he called a youngster? Because he is constantly renewed, like the moon. And yet he always remains poor [for after the bounty he received is removed he is again poor] as we said. He is also "wise," because wisdom resides within him [for malchut called lower chochma is envested in him].

"...than an old king" refers to the Evil Inclination. As we have learned, it never departed from its impure ways from the day it was created [and has no renewal and purity as does the Meta-tron, who is called 'youngster' on account of that]. It is foolish, as all its ways lead to evil. It deludes people and is not careful. It deceives people and misleads them from the path of good to the path of wickedness.

Come and see! This is why it [the Evil Inclination] comes to man first, from the day he is born, so that man will believe it. Later, when the Good Inclination arrives, man will find it difficult to believe it and it will seem burdensome [to listen to it]. Similarly, we have learned (in Sota 21b) who is a clever evil one? He who hastens to plead his case in front of a judge before the arrival of his colleague, the litigant, as written: "The one who pleads first seems to be in the right" (Proverbs 18:17) [for first impressions are always strongest].

Similarly, it is written," The serpent [i.e. the Evil Inclination] was crafty". (Gen. 3:2) as he hurries to dwell in man before his colleague, the Good Inclination, comes to dwell in him. And because he arrived early to plead his case, when his colleague, the Good Inclination, comes later, it is difficult for man to be together with it! And it [the Good Inclination] cannot raise its head [and the man feels] as if it put onto his shoulders all the burdens of the world [when the Good Inclination tries to convince him to do good]. All this is because the Evil One came first. Of this, Solomon said, "The wisdom of the poor man [the Good Inclination] is despised and his words are not heard", (Ecclesiastes 9:16) because the other one [the Evil Inclination] arrived earlier.

Therefore, any judge who hears the words of a litigant before his colleague arrives, it is as if he accepts another god to believe in. But, when "his neighbor arrives, and he examines" (Proverbs 18:17) [both of their claims]. This is the way of a righteous man not to believe the subtle evil speaker, who is the Evil Inclination, plead his case before the arrival of his colleague, the Good Inclination. And because of this [belief in the Evil Inclination] people fail [to be rewarded] in the world to come.

But the righteous man who fears his Master suffers many afflictions in this world in order not to believe in and join with the Evil Inclination. And G‑d saves him from them all. As it is written: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, and G‑d delivers him out of them all". (Psalms 34:20) Note that it is literally written: "Many afflictions of a righteous one," and not '[come] to a righteous one.' [for the afflictions are his battles with his own Evil Inclination] Because G‑d desires this [battling and subsequent victory]. For this reason, G‑d desires this man and delivers him from all [afflictions, both] in this world and in the world to come. Fortunate is his lot!

BeRahamim LeHayyim: Why did the Ari and Chida include this and what do they want us to learn?

We have been told that one of the secrets of life is "to stay young." Not the superficial quest to have washboard abs or no gray hair or wrinkle-free facial skin. Rather, to keep renewing oneself, to not get stale. That was the talent of our Mother Sarah, who at 127 was like 100, and 20, and 7. So too, Moses was "fresh" on the last day of his life.

Staying simple and united avoids the complications of too many choices, choices inevitably fostered by our strong desires. It is not an easy task to do so, and as above notes, one may be faced with many challenges.

Learn to listen to the crafty voice inside. Tell it that it is heard, but that its advice will not be followed. Follow that of your wise child, the inner child that knew all it had to know in kindergarten: Wash your hands before eating. Drink your milk, eat your vegetables. Love story time and group play. Clean up your messes. Don't tell bad stories about your playmates or make fun of others. Flush.

What does the above mean to you, and why is it revealed to you now?

Bracketed annotations from Metok Midevash and Sulam commentaries
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