Rabbi Hizkiyah cited the verse: "Hear righteousness, G‑d, attend to my songs of praises of praise..." (Psalms 17:1) The Congregation of Israel [the Shechinah] is so beloved by the Holy One, blessed be He [Zeir Anpin ] that any time She comes before Him, He is ready to receive Her [to unite with Her; Israel's good deeds give Her the power to comes before Him], as written: "O Master, hear righteousness, attend to my songs of praise, give ear to my prayer." David said: 'I am connected with the Congregation of Israel, I am before You as She is.' Therefore, "O Master, hear righteousness [as the Shechinah is called] at first - and afterwards, "attend to my songs of praise, give ear to my prayer." [Since David is connected with the Shechinah, at the same time He will hear his prayer as well.]

"From lips without deceit". What does that verse mean? We have learned that every word of prayer that issues from a man's mouth ascends aloft and splits the firmaments and enters a place that where his word is tested whether it is proper or not. If it is proper, then it is brought before the Holy King to do his will [of the one who prayed] but if not, it is pushed out and an alien spirit [of the Other Side] is aroused by it.

Come and see: it is written of Joseph, "Whose foot they hurt with fetters" (Psalms 105:18) [when he was imprisoned]. They hurt his foot with fetters "until the time that his word came, G‑d's speech tested it." (Ibid. 105:19) To whose word does it refer in that verse: "Until the time that his word came"? The words of Joseph came to heaven and were tested. "G‑d's speech tested it" [Joseph's words, if they were proper, and] then, "the king sent and loosened him, and the ruler of the people let him go free." (Ibid. 105:20)

BeRahamim LeHayyim: What does the above mean to you? Why is it revealed to you now?

"Tamim tehiya/ you shall wholesome be to the L-rd, your G‑d." That is a command from the Eternal. There is nothing more bothersome to above than hypocrisy. And nothing more beloved than simple devotion. Our father Jacob was an Ish Tam/a sincere man, and his inheritance was forever. To pray means to serve with the heart, not the head. To do good deeds also means to couple with good intentions, not for the sake of honor or prestige. These qualities have been stressed by the Zohar, and it would be wise to sit back and reflect on one's relation with them.

Bracketed annotations from Metok Midevash and Sulam commentaries
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