Resh Laqish said: A word, as it were, came from the mouth of the Holy One (according to Ps. 33:6): BY THE WORD OF THE LORD WERE THE HEAVENS MADE. It is also written (in Gen. 1:1-27) that by it he CREATED. This account was simply for exacting retribution from the wicked who destroy the world, which was created with toil and wearisome labor, and to give a good recompense to the righteous who preserve the world, which was created by the word of the LORD. Ergo (in Gen. 1:1): IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS.