Before the Kabbalah, before the Zohar, there was the Sefer Yetzirah — the Book of Formation. Composed in the early centuries of the Common Era, this brief and enigmatic text is the oldest known work of Jewish mysticism, a meditation on how God created the world through thirty-two paths of wisdom: ten sefirot and the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In clear, accessible modern English, this edition opens the ancient text to today's reader. Here you will find the three mother letters that balance air, water, and fire; the seven doubles that govern the planets and the days; the twelve simples that order the months and the body; and the great vision of a universe spoken into being. Faithful to the original's meaning and spirit, with a helpful introduction, glossary, and reading guide, this volume invites you into one of the most remarkable spiritual texts ever written. Part of The Sacred Wisdom Library.