Midrash su Salmi 99:4

Now these are the judgments (Exod. 21:1). Scripture states (elsewhere in reference to this verse): The strength also of the king who loveth justice. Thou hast established equity and righteousness in Jacob (Ps. 99:4). (That is to say,) all strength, praise, greatness, and might belong to the King of Kings, who loveth justice. Normally a powerful man is not concerned about executing his decisions in accordance with the demands of justice. In fact, he ignores justice and commits acts of violence and theft. He disregards the attitude of His Creator, favors his friends and his relatives, and acts unjustly toward his enemies. But the Holy One, blessed be He, loveth justice, and executes his decrees only justly. Hence it says: The strength also of the King who loveth justice.

(Exod. 21:1:) AND THESE ARE THE ORDINANCES (mishpatim)…. This text is related (to Ps. 99:4): AND A MIGHTY KING LOVES JUSTICE (mishpat).¹Tanh., Exod. 6:1; M. Pss. 99:2; Exod. R. 30:1. All strength, might, and glory belong to the Holy One. David said (in I Chron. 29:10): TO YOU, O LORD, BELONG THE GREATNESS AND THE MIGHT…. <Such> strength belongs to the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One. You find that whoever is in a position of power does not accomplish his ends with justice (mishpat) but <instead> subverts justice. The Holy One, however, is in a position of power and <still> loves justice (mishpat). (Ps. 99:4, cont.:) YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED UPRIGHTNESS. R. Alexandri said: Two donkey drivers who hated each other were going along the road.²M.Pss.99:3. When the donkey belonging to one of them lay down, his companion saw it and passed by. After he had passed by, he thought: It is written in the Torah (in Exod. 23:5): WHEN YOU SEE THE DONKEY OF ONE WHO HATES YOU <LYING DOWN UNDER ITS BURDEN>…, [YOU MUST SURELY ASSIST HIM.]³Cf. ARN, A 23; Matthew 5:43–48; //Luke 6:27–28, 32–36; Romans 12:20. He immediately returned and shared the load with him. He began to consider <the matter > in his heart. He thought: So-and-so actually loves me,⁴The Buber text reads, “him.” and I did not know it! They entered an inn,⁵Gk.: pandokeion. to eat and drink. Who caused them to make peace? <It happened> because this person considered the Torah. (Ps. 99:4, cont.:) YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED UPRIGHTNESS…. What is this? This is justice (mishpat).

What is meant by Thou hast established equity (ibid.)? R. Alexandri explained it as follows: Two mules are being led along a road by men who despise each other. Suddenly, one of the mules falls to the ground. As the one who is leading the second mule passes by, he sees the mule of the other man stretched out beneath his load, and he says to himself: “Is it not written in the law that If thou seest the ass of him that hateth thee lying under its burden, thou shalt forbear to pass him by; thou shalt verily release it for him (Exod. 23:5)?” What did he do? He turned back to help the other man reload his mule, and then accompanied him on the way. In fact, while working with him he began to talk to the owner of the mule, saying: “Let us loosen it a little on this side, let us tighten it down on this side,” until he reloaded the animal with him. It came to pass that they had made peace between themselves. The driver of the mule (that had fallen) said to himself: “I cannot believe that he hates me; see how concerned he was when he saw that my mule and I were in distress.” As a result, they went into the inn, and ate and drank together. Finally they became extremely attached to each other. Hence, Thou hast established equity, Thou hast executed justice and righteousness.

R’ Elazar said: the whole Torah hangs on judgment. That is why the Holy One gave the laws of justice after the Ten Commandments - because people cross the line of justice, are punished and this teaches the whole world. Sodom was not overturned until it crossed the line of justice, as it says “…pride, abundance of bread, and careless ease…“ (Ezekiel 16:49) Even Jerusalem was not exiled until she crossed the line of justice, as it says “…the orphan they do not judge, and the quarrel of the widow does not come to them.” (Isaiah 1:23) And why did the Holy One give the crown to Yehudah? He is not the sole mighty one from among his brothers, are not Shimon, Levi and the others mighty as well? Rather, it was because he gave true judgment to Tamar, therefore he was made judge of the world. This is like a judge before whom an orphan’s judgment comes and he finds in her favor. So too Yehudah – Tamar’s judgment that she should be burned came before him, and he found in her merit because he found merit in her. How? Yitzchak and Yaakov were sitting there, and all his brothers were covering for him. Yehudah acknowledged Gd (HaMakom) and spoke the truth of the matter, saying “She is more in the right than I…” (Bereshit 38:26) and the Holy One made him prince. So Ben Zoma used to say and explain: if you were ashamed in this world, you will not be ashamed of the Holy One, who is a consuming fire, in the coming world. Why? Because the shame of this world is nothing other than the shame of one’s standing in the coming world, as it says “For this let every pious man pray to You…” (Tehillim 32:6)