When God's Wrath Subsided and the Flood Waters Receded

Another interpretation of (Genesis 8:1): "And God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided." "And they subsided" — for the Holy One, blessed be He, allayed His wrath, just as it is said (Esther 7:10): "And the wrath of the king subsided." And so He is destined to do, that He exacts punishment from the wicked and destroys them from the world, while He creates the righteous as a new creation and places a spirit within them, as it is said (Ezekiel 37:14): "And I will put My spirit within you, and you shall live." David said (Psalms 104:29): "You hide Your face, [O LORD,] they are dismayed" — these are the wicked; but the righteous (Psalms 104:30): "You send forth Your spirit, they are created." The Holy One, blessed be He, said: In this world I exacted punishment from the wicked who rebelled against Me, and I destroyed them from the world, and I performed a good deed for Noah and for his sons [and for his descendants]; and in the world to come I exact punishment from the wicked and perform a good deed for the righteous. And so Isaiah said (Isaiah 40:10): "Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might," and so forth — this concerns the nations of the world; but for the righteous: "Behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him" (ibid.).