אֵיכָה֙ הָיְתָ֣ה לְזוֹנָ֔ה קִרְיָ֖ה נֶאֱמָנָ֑ה מְלֵאֲתִ֣י מִשְׁפָּ֗ט צֶ֛דֶק יָלִ֥ין בָּ֖הּ וְעַתָּ֥ה מְרַצְּחִֽים׃
Paanong ang tapat na lungsod ay naging tulad ng isang babaeng nagbebenta ng aliw! Siya na dating puno ng katarungan, na doon ay laging nananahan ang katuwiran; ngunit ngayon, mga mamamatay-tao.
Sha'arei Orah
Now, because both Sefirot are aligned one opposite the other, and both are called Righteousness-Tzedek-צדק, the Torah therefore states,197Deuteronomy 16:20 “Righteousness-Tzedek-צדק, righteousness-Tzedek-צדק shall you pursue.” That is, you should pursue attaining the Gates of Righteousness-Shaarei Tzedek-שערי צדק, so that through them you may enter the Life of the Coming World-Chayei Olam HaBa-חיי עולם הבא, that is, the Upper Righteousness-Tzedek Elyon-צדק עליון. The verse therefore states, “Righteousness-Tzedek-צדק, righteousness-Tzedek-צדק shall you pursue,” and then explains, “So that you may live-Tichyeh-תחיה,” referring to the Upper Righteousness-Tzedek Elyon-צדק עליון, “And possess the Land-Aretz-ארץ,” referring to the Lower Righteousness-Tzedek Tachton-צדק תחתון, which is the secret of the Land of Israel-Eretz Yisroel-ארץ ישראל, as the verse states,198Isaiah 1:21 “She was full of justice-Mishpat-משפט, righteousness-Tzedek-צדק lodged in her.” Understand this well.
Sefer HaBahir
[The students asked,] "And why is 'Tzedek, tzedek [צדק]' (Deuteronomy 16:20) — two times?"
[Rabbi Rachumai] said to them, "As is written, 'From the brilliance before Him' (Psalms 18:13). The first 'tzedek' is actual [ממש] Tzedek, and She is Shechinah, as is written, 'Righteousness [צדק] dwells in Her' (Isaiah 1:21)."
[They asked,] "And what is the second 'tzedek'?"
[He answered,] "This is tzedek that frightens the righteous [צדיקים]."
[They asked,] "And is this Tzedek Tzedakah or not?"
[He answered,] "No."
"Why?"
"As is written, 'He dons Tzedakah like armor' (Isaiah 59:17) and Tzedek is 'A helm of redemption on His head' (Ibid.). There is no 'His head' other than Truth [אמת], as it is said, 'The head of Your words is Truth' (Psalms 119:160), and there is no Truth other than Peace [שלום], as is said, 'For He will be Peace and Truth in my days' (Isaiah 39:8). Is it possible for a person to say this? Thus, Hezekiah said [that] this trait that You gave to David, my father, is a half day, and peace and truth are half days. Therefore, he mentioned 'my days,' and he mentioned 'peace and truth' and 'in my days', as everything is one, as is written, peace 'There was evening and there was morning — one day' Genesis 1:5). What is the day? Peace, so too he seeks peace as is said 'Peace and truth he will be in my days' (Genesis 42:19). With this trait that you gave to David, my father, as is written, 'His throne, as the sun, before him' (Psalms 89:37)."
[Rabbi Rachumai] said to them, "As is written, 'From the brilliance before Him' (Psalms 18:13). The first 'tzedek' is actual [ממש] Tzedek, and She is Shechinah, as is written, 'Righteousness [צדק] dwells in Her' (Isaiah 1:21)."
[They asked,] "And what is the second 'tzedek'?"
[He answered,] "This is tzedek that frightens the righteous [צדיקים]."
[They asked,] "And is this Tzedek Tzedakah or not?"
[He answered,] "No."
"Why?"
"As is written, 'He dons Tzedakah like armor' (Isaiah 59:17) and Tzedek is 'A helm of redemption on His head' (Ibid.). There is no 'His head' other than Truth [אמת], as it is said, 'The head of Your words is Truth' (Psalms 119:160), and there is no Truth other than Peace [שלום], as is said, 'For He will be Peace and Truth in my days' (Isaiah 39:8). Is it possible for a person to say this? Thus, Hezekiah said [that] this trait that You gave to David, my father, is a half day, and peace and truth are half days. Therefore, he mentioned 'my days,' and he mentioned 'peace and truth' and 'in my days', as everything is one, as is written, peace 'There was evening and there was morning — one day' Genesis 1:5). What is the day? Peace, so too he seeks peace as is said 'Peace and truth he will be in my days' (Genesis 42:19). With this trait that you gave to David, my father, as is written, 'His throne, as the sun, before him' (Psalms 89:37)."
Sha'arei Orah
Now, at times this Divine quality is called by the term Righteousness-Tzedek-צדק. That is, since the Indwelling Presence of HaShem-יהו״ה was always present in Jerusalem, because it was chosen as His eternal home, He therefore stated,137Isaiah 1:21 “She was full of justice, righteousness-Tzedek-צדק lodged in her.” Now, about the matter of righteousness-Tzedek-צדק, know that this quality is called the Lower Court of Judgment-Beit Din Shel Matah-בית דין של מטה, which receives its influence from the Upper Court of Judgment (Beit Din Shel Ma’alah-בית דין של מעלה), which is the Divine quality of judgment (Gevurah) and fear (Pachad) and is called by the title God-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם.