ד אמר מר ממתקין הן בעבים מנליה דא"ר יצחק בר יוסף א"ר יוחנן כתיב (תהלים יח, יב) חשכת מים עבי שחקים וכתיב (שמואל ב כב, יב) חשרת מים עבי שחקים
4 take away the kaf and add it to the [word written with] resh and read haksharath.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By the manipulation of the letters in the words and in the verses cited the word is obtained, meaning 'making fit', i.e., v j drinkable. The meaning is the clouds make the waters drinkable. The additional change of to involved is quite common in Semitic languages.');"><sup>7</sup></span> As for R'Joshua what use does he make of these verses? - He is of the opinion that these verses are the basis for the statement made by R'Dimi when he came [to Babylon] and he reported that in Palestine people say, If the clouds are bright they contain little water, but i they are dark they contain much water.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [This popular proverb is alluded to in the verse cited from Psalms, 'Darkness of waters - thick clouds of skies', R. Joshua being of the uhfaj ,raj opinion that is not a variant of .]');"><sup>8</sup></span> In keeping with whose view is the teaching which has been taught: The upper waters remain suspended by Divine command, and their fruit is the rain-water, as it is said, The earth is full of the fruit of Thy works?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. CIV, 13.');"><sup>9</sup></span>