מצוה הבאה לידך אל תחמיצנהDo Not Let It Sour

mitzvah ha-ba'ah le-yadkha al taḥmitzenahIn Gamatria ↗

Run to the mitzvah, and the running lights the heart.

Zeal has two parts. Before acting: do not let a mitzvah sour. Act at once, for every moment can bring a new obstacle. When David told Benaiah to anoint Solomon, Benaiah answered, 'Amen, so may God say'; the Midrash says many accusers could rise between there and Gihon. Lot's elder daughter acted first, and her line reached kingship four generations sooner. After beginning: finish quickly, for fear of not completing it. A mitzvah is named for the one who finishes it. Abraham hurried, Rebecca hurried, Solomon was quick to build the Temple. Then Ramchal adds: as inner fire produces haste, haste produces inner fire. One who lacks longing should move with zeal by choice. The outer motion is in his hands, and it wakes the inner one. 'Let us know, let us run to know the Lord.'

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