## Sifrei Devarim Paragraph 307

###### Sifrei Devarim 307:1
[Sifrei Devarim 307:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:1)

(דברים לב ד) **הַצּוּר**, הַצַּיָּר שֶׁהוּא צָר אֶת הָעוֹלָם תְּחִלָּה וְיָצַר בּוֹ אֶת הָאָדָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ב ז): ״וַיִּיצֶר ה׳ אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**Pisqa’ 307**⁵⁰
1. “The Rock”⁵¹ literally: “rock,” “stone.” The root, *tz-w-r,* informs virtually every key expositional word (*tzayar,* “designer”; *tzar, “designed; yitzer,* “formed.” (Dt. 32:4)— [the Rock] is the designer,
Who designed the world from the beginning
and formed the Adam within it,
for it is stated:
“Then HASHEM the God *formed* the Adam” (Gn 2:7).

footnotes:
⁵⁰ H:310-313;JN2:317-321.
⁵¹ Heb: tzur,


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:2
[Sifrei Devarim 307:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:2)

**תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ**, פְּעֻלָּתוֹ שְׁלֵמָה עִם כָּל בָּאֵי הָעוֹלָם, וְאֵין לְהַרְהֵר אַחַר מַעֲשָׂיו אֲפִלּוּ עִלָּה שֶׁל כְּלוּם, וְאֵין אֶחָד מֵהֶם שֶׁיִּסְתַּכֵּל וְיֹאמַר: אִלּוּ הָיוּ לִי שָׁלֹשׁ עֵינַיִם וְאִלּוּ הָיוּ לִי שָׁלֹשׁ יָדַיִם וְאִלּוּ הָיוּ לִי שָׁלֹשׁ רַגְלַיִם וְאִלּוּ הָיִיתִי מְהַלֵּךְ עַל רֹאשִׁי וְאִלּוּ הָיוּ פָנַי הֲפוּכוֹת לַאֲחוֹרַי – כַּמָּה הָיָה נָאֶה לִי, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **כִּי כָל דְּבָרָיו מִשְׁפָּט**, יוֹשֵׁב עִם כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בַּדִּין וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ מַה שֶּׁהוּא רָאוּי לוֹ.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
**“Perfect in all His *deeds*” (Dt. 32:4)—**
**his creative deeds perfectly suit all the creatures in the world.**
**None can second-guess his work for the slightest flaw.**
**None can contemplate [His perfect handiwork] and wonder**:⁵² 307.2 and 307.3.
If only I had three eyes!
If only I had three hands!
If only I had three feet!
If only I could walk on my head!
If only I could turn my face backwards—
how lovely it would be!
The Teaching states:
“For all His ways are just” (Dt. 32:4)—
He dispenses judgment to each and all,
providing him with what is appropriate.

footnotes:
⁵² Cf. Pisqa’ot


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:3
[Sifrei Devarim 307:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:3)

**אֵל אֱמוּנָה**, שֶׁהֶאֱמִין בָּעוֹלָם וּבְרָאוֹ.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“A faithful⁵³. The common root of *‘emunah* and *he’emin* is *‘-m-n,* to “confirm” or “affirm.” God” (Dt. 32:4)—
He *affirmed* the world that He created.

footnotes:
⁵³ Heb: ‘emunah


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:4
[Sifrei Devarim 307:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:4)

**וְאֵין עָוֶל**, שֶׁלֹּא נִבְרְאוּ בְּנֵי אָדָם לִהְיוֹת רְשָׁעִים אֶלָּא צַדִּיקִים, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (קהלת ז כט): ״לְבַד רְאֵה זֶה מָצָאתִי אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם יָשָׁר וְהֵמָּה בִקְשׁוּ חִשְּׁבֹנוֹת רַבִּים״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“Without *duplicity*” (Dt. 32:4)—
for the Adam’s offspring were not created to be wicked, but to be righteous.
And, similarly does He say:
“Furthermore, see what else I have found:
God made [the offspring of] the Adam *morally upright,*
but they figured otherwise!” (Ecc. 7:29)


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:5
[Sifrei Devarim 307:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:5)

**צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא**, מִתְנַהֵג בְּיַשְׁרוּת עִם כָּל בָּאֵי הָעוֹלָם.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“*Righteous* and *upright* (*yashar*) is He!” (Dt. 32:4)—
conducting Himself by *strict standards*⁵⁴; from *yashar*, “upright, straight.”
with all the creatures in the world.

footnotes:
⁵⁴ Heb: yesharut


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:6
[Sifrei Devarim 307:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:6)

דָּבָר אַחֵר **הַצּוּר**, הַתַּקִּיף. **תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ**, פְּעֻלָּתוֹ שְׁלֵמָה עִם כָּל בָּאֵי הָעוֹלָם, וְאֵין לְהַרְהֵר אַחַר מַעֲשָׂיו אֲפִלּוּ עִלָּה שֶׁל כְּלוּם, וְאֵין אֶחָד מֵהֶם שֶׁיִּסְתַּכֵּל וְיֹאמַר: מָה רָאוּ אַנְשֵׁי דוֹר הַמַּבּוּל לְהִשָּׁטֵף בַּמַּיִם, וּמָה רָאוּ אַנְשֵׁי מִגְדָּל שֶׁנִּתְפַּזְּרוּ מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ, וּמָה רָאוּ אַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם לְהִשָּׁטֵף בְּאֵשׁ וְגָפְרִית, וּמָה רָאָה אַהֲרֹן לִטֹּל אֶת הַכְּהֻנָּה, וּמָה רָאָה דָּוִד לִטֹּל אֶת הַמַּלְכוּת, וּמָה רָאוּ קֹרַח וַעֲדָתוֹ שֶׁתִּבְלָעֵם הָאָרֶץ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: **כִּי כָל דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט**, יוֹשֵׁב עִם כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּדִין, וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ מַה שֶּׁרָאוּי לוֹ. **אֵל אֱמוּנָה**, בַּעַל הַפִּקָּדוֹן.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
2. Another word:
**“The Rock” (Dt. 32:4)— [the Rock is also] the Unassailable One**⁵⁵ literally, “invincible.” See also 307.3 (*taqif*).
**“Perfect in all His *deeds*” (Dt. 32:4)—**
**his creative deeds perfectly suit all the creatures in the world.**
**None can second-guess his work for the slightest flaw.**
**None can contemplate [His handiwork] and wonder:**⁵⁶ 307.3
Why did the people of the generation of the Deluge
deserve to be swept away by water?
Why did the people of the Tower
deserve to be scattered from
one end of the world to the other?
Why did the people of Sodom
deserve to be swept away
by fire and brimstone?
Why did Aaron deserve to take the High Priesthood?
Why did David deserve to take the Kingship?
And why did Korah and his band
deserve to be swallowed up by the earth?
The Teaching states:
“For all His ways are just” (Dt. 32:4)—
He dispenses judgment to each and all,
providing him with what is appropriate.
“A *faithful* God” (Dt. 32:4)—
[He is] *trustworthy* in protecting His deposits.

footnotes:
⁵⁵ Heb: taqif;
⁵⁶ See Pisqa’


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:7
[Sifrei Devarim 307:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:7)

**וְאֵין עָוֶל**, גּוֹבֶה שֶׁלּוֹ בָּאַחֲרוֹנָה, שֶׁלֹּא כְּמִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם מִדַּת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם, מַפְקִיד אֵצֶל חֲבֵרוֹ כִּיס שֶׁל מָאתַיִם וְיֵשׁ לוֹ אֶצְלוֹ מָנֶה, כְּשֶׁהוּא בָּא לִטֹּל אֶת שֶׁלּוֹ, אוֹמֵר לוֹ: צֵא מָנֶה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לִי בְּיָדְךָ, וְהֵי לְךָ אֶת הַשְּׁאָר. וְכֵן פּוֹעֵל שֶׁעָשָׂה אֵצֶל בַּעַל הַבַּיִת וְיֵשׁ לוֹ בְּיָדוֹ דִּינָר, כְּשֶׁהוּא בָּא לִטֹּל אֶת שְׂכָרוֹ, אוֹמֵר לוֹ: צֵא דִּינָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לִי בְּיָדְךָ וְהֵי לְךָ אֶת הַשְּׁאָר, אֲבָל מִי שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם אֵינוֹ כֵן, אֶלָּא **אֵל אֱמוּנָה** בַּעַל הַפִּקָּדוֹן, **וְאֵין עָוֶל**, גּוֹבֶה אֶת שֶׁלּוֹ בָּאַחֲרוֹנָה.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“Without *duplicity*” (Dt. 32:4)—
He’ll *collect His* [debt] only after [paying His own].⁵⁷
For the nature of flesh and blood,
is nothing like the nature of the Blessed Holy One!
Flesh and blood will deposit as a pledge,
with his associate,
a purse of 200 coins, while still owing
him a *manah* [worth 100 coins]—
Now, when the depositor comes to
reclaim his pledge, his associate says:
Let’s take the *manah* you owe me
and deduct it from the purse,
and here is the balance!
And take also the case of a laborer,
who does a job for the boss,
to whom he already owes a *dinar.*
When he comes for his pay, the boss says:
Let’s take the *dinar* you owe me
and deduct it from your pay,
and here is the balance!
But the One Who Spoke the World into Being
is not like this! Rather:
“A *faithful* God” (Dt. 32:4)—
*trustworthy* in protecting His deposits.
“Without *duplicity*” (Dt. 32:4)—
He’ll *collect His* [debt] only after [paying His own].⁵⁸

footnotes:
⁵⁷ Translation follows Basser: 98.
⁵⁸ Translation follows Basser: 98.


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:8
[Sifrei Devarim 307:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:8)

**צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא**, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים יא ז): ״כִּי צַדִּיק ה׳ צְדָקוֹת אָהֵב״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“*Righteous* and upright is He!” (Dt. 32:4)—
[And similarly, it is stated:]
“For HASHEM is righteous, loving *righteous deeds*!” (Ps. 11:7)


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:9
[Sifrei Devarim 307:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:9)

דָּבָר אַחֵר **הַצּוּר**, הַתַּקִּיף.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
3. Another word:
**“The Rock,” (Dt. 32:41)—**
**the Unassailable One**.⁵⁹ 307.2.

footnotes:
⁵⁹ See Pisqa’


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:10
[Sifrei Devarim 307:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:10)

**תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ**, פְּעֻלָּתָם שֶׁל בָּאֵי הָעוֹלָם שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנָיו, מַתַּן שְׂכָרָם שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים וּמַחַת פֻּרְעָנוּתָם שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים, אֵלּוּ לֹא נָטְלוּ כְּלוּם מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְאֵלּוּ לֹא נָטְלוּ כְּלוּם מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹּא נָטְלוּ צַדִּיקִים כְּלוּם מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים לא כ): ״מָה רַב טוּבְךָ אֲשֶׁר צָפַנְתָּ לִּירֵאֶיךָ״. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹּא נָטְלוּ רְשָׁעִים כְּלוּם מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לב לד): ״הֲלֹא הוּא כָּמֻס עִמָּדִי חָתֻם בְּאוֹצְרֹתָי״. אֵי מָתַי אֵלּוּ וְאֵלּוּ נוֹטְלִים, **כִּי כָל דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט** לְמָחָר כְּשֶׁהוּא יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא דִין יוֹשֵׁב עִם כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּדִין וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ מַה שֶּׁרָאוּי לוֹ.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“*Perfect* in all His deeds” (Dt. 32:4).
The deeds of all the creatures in the world,
are *perfectly assessed* before Him,
the Righteous receiving their reward.
and the Wicked delivered to their retribution.
The former take away nothing they have earned in the present eon,
and the latter take away nothing they have earned in the present eon.
Now, how do I know that
the Righteous *take away nothing* they have earned in the present eon?
As it is stated:
“How great is Your Goodness which you have *stored up*
for those who revered you” (Ps. 31:20).
And how do I know that
the Wicked *take away nothing* they have earned in the present eon?
As it is stated:
“Are they not *deposited* with Me? *Sealed* in my treasury?” (Dt. 32:34)?
So, when does each of them take away [what they have earned]?
“For *all* His ways *are just*” (Dt. 32:4)—
in the future, when He sits on the Throne of Judgment,
He dispenses judgment to each and all,
providing him with what is appropriate.


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:11
[Sifrei Devarim 307:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:11)

**אֵל אֱמוּנָה**, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁמְּשַׁלֵּם לְצַדִּיק גָּמוּר שְׂכַר מִצְוָה שֶׁעָשָׂה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, כָּךְ מְשַׁלֵּם לְרָשָׁע גָּמוּר שְׂכַר מִצְוָה קַלָּה שֶׁעָשָׂה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁנִּפְרָע מֵרָשָׁע גָּמוּר עַל עֲבֵרָה שֶׁעָשָׂה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, כָּךְ נִפְרָע מִצַּדִּיק גָּמוּר עַל עֲבֵרָה קַלָּה שֶׁעָשָׂה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“A *truthful* God” (Dt. 32:4).
Just as He bestows upon the perfectly righteous
—in the coming eon—
a reward for fulfilling the commandments
in the present eon,
so, too, in the coming eon,
He bestows upon the perfectly wicked
—in the coming eon—
a reward for fulfilling the simplest commandments
in the present eon.
And just as He exacts from the perfectly wicked
—in the coming eon—
retribution for the transgression of a simple commandment,
committed in the present eon,
so, too, in the coming eon,
He exacts upon the perfectly righteous
retribution for the transgression of a simple commandment
committed in the present eon.


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:12
[Sifrei Devarim 307:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:12)

**וְאֵין עָוֶל**, כְּשֶׁאָדָם נִפְטָר מִן הָעוֹלָם בָּאִים כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו וְנִפְרָטִים לְפָנָיו וְאוֹמְרִים לוֹ: כָּךְ וְכָךְ עָשִׂיתָ בְּיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי, וְכָךְ וְכָךְ עָשִׂיתָ בְּיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי. אַתָּה מַאֲמִין בַּדְּבָרִים הַלָּלוּ? וְהוּא אוֹמֵר: הֵן. אוֹמְרִים לוֹ: חֲתוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב לז ז): ״בְּיַד כָּל אָדָם יַחְתּוֹם לָדַעַת כָּל אַנְשֵׁי מַעֲשֵׂהוּ״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
4. “Without *duplicity*” (Dt. 32:4)—
When a person passes from the world,
all the details of his actions come before him.
And they say to him:
On Such-and-Such a day
you did This-and-That;
on Such-and-Such a day
You did This-and-That.
Do you confirm these matters?
So he says: Yes!
They say to him: Sign here!
As it is said:
“The hand of every man shall *sign it*, so that all men will know his deeds” (Job. 37:7).


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:13
[Sifrei Devarim 307:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:13)

**צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא**, וְהוּא מַצְדִּיק אֶת הַדִּין וְאוֹמֵר: יָפֶה נִדַּנְתִּי. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (תהלים נא ו): ״לְמַעַן תִּצְדַּק בְּדָבְרֶךָ״.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
“*Righteous* and *upright* is He!” (Dt. 32:4).
Then he will acknowledge the judgment, saying:
I have been *well-judged* !
And this is as He says:
“So that you may be *justified* by your words.” (Ps. 51:6).


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:14
[Sifrei Devarim 307:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:14)

דָּבָר אַחֵר **הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ** כְּשֶׁתָּפְסוּ אֶת רַבִּי חֲנִינָה בֶּן תְּרַדְיוֹן נִגְזְרָה עָלָיו גְּזֵרָה לִשָּׂרֵף עִם סִפְרוֹ. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: נִגְזְרָה עָלֶיךָ גְּזֵרָה לִשָּׂרֵף עִם סִפְרָךְ. קָרָא הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה: **הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ**. אָמְרוּ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ: נִגְזְרָה עַל בַּעְלֵךְ גְּזֵרָה לִשָּׂרֵף וְעָלַיִךְ לֵהָרֵג. קָרְאָה הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה: **אֵל אֱמוּנָה וְאֵין עָוֶל**. אָמְרוּ לְבִתּוֹ: נִגְזְרָה גְּזֵרָה עַל אָבִיךְ לִשָּׂרֵף וְעַל אִמֵּךְ לֵהָרֵג וְעָלַיִךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת מְלָאכָה. קָרְאָה הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה (ירמיה לב יט): ״גְּדוֹל הָעֵצָה וְרַב הָעֲלִילִיָּה אֲשֶׁר עֵינֶיךָ פְּקוּחוֹת״. אָמַר רַבִּי: כַּמָּה גְּדוֹלִים צַדִּיקִים אֵלּוּ, שֶׁבִּשְׁעַת צָרָתָם הִזְמִינוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה פְּסוּקִים שֶׁל צִדּוּק הַדִּין, מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בְּכָל הַכְּתוּבִים, כִּוְּנוּ שְׁלָשְׁתָּם אֶת לִבָּם וְצִדְּקוּ עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת הַדִּין. עָמַד פִילוֹסוֹפוֹס עַל אַפַּרְכְיָא שֶׁלּוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ: מָרִי, אַל תָּזוּחַ דַּעְתְּךָ שֶׁשָּׂרַפְתָּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, שֶׁמִּמָּקוֹם שֶׁיָּצָאת חָזְרָה לָהּ לְבֵית אָבִיהָ. אָמַר לוֹ: לְמָחָר אַף דִּינָךְ כַּיּוֹצֵא בְּאֵלּוּ. אָמַר לוֹ: בִּשַּׂרְתַּנִי בְּשׂוֹרָה טוֹבָה שֶׁמָּחָר יְהֵא חֶלְקִי עִמָּהֶם לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
Another word:
“The Rock, perfect *in all* His deeds” (Dt. 32:4).
When they arrested R. Hanina b. Teradyon,
he was sentenced to be burned with his [Torah] scroll.
They said to him:
You are sentenced to be burned with your scroll!
Then he recited this Scripture:
“The Rock, perfect *in all* His deeds” (Dt. 32:4)
They said to his wife:
Your husband has been sentenced to be burned,
and you are to be executed [by the sword]! ⁶⁰ literally, “to be killed”. The noun, *hereg,* indicates execution by the sword (M. San. 9:1-2)
So she recited this Scripture:
“A *truthful* God, without *duplicity*” (Dt. 32:4).
They said to his daughter:
Your father has been sentenced to be burned,
and your mother is to be executed.
But you are condemned to concubinage!⁶¹, literally “to do hard labor.” B. AZ. 18a substitutes a more realistic punishment, alluded to in the translation: *leisheiv baqubbah shel zonot.*
So she recited this Scripture: “You are *great in counsel*, and *lofty in deeds*;
whose eyes perceive all the human foibles,
so as to *repay a man according to his choices*” (Jer. 32:19)
Said Rabbi:
How great are these Righteous Ones!
For in the very hour of their crisis
they were able to summon three verses
unequalled in all of Scripture,
as justifications of [divine] judgment.
All three focused their hearts to
justify the judgment against them.
[At that moment,]
Filosofos⁶² challenged his governor, saying:
My Master! Don’t flatter yourself
that you have burned the Torah!
for She has merely returned to Her place
in the house of Her Father.
The governor replied:
tomorrow you will share their fate!
He answered:
You’ve given me good news!
For tomorrow my portion will join theirs in the coming eon!

footnotes:
⁶⁰ Heb: lihareg,
⁶¹ Heb: la`asot mela’chah
⁶² Cf. the figure of Proklus b. Filosofos at M. AZ. 3:4. He is one of several figures routinely found in debate with sages over fundamental principles of theology. He is probably intended to represent pagan skepticism.


###### Sifrei Devarim 307:15
[Sifrei Devarim 307:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sifrei%20Devarim/r/307:15)

דָּבָר אַחֵר **הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ**, כְּשֶׁיָּרַד מֹשֶׁה מֵהַר סִינַי נִתְקַבְּצוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶצְלוֹ, אָמְרוּ לוֹ: רַבֵּינוּ מֹשֶׁה, אֱמֹר לָנוּ מַה הִיא מִדַּת הַדִּין לְמַעְלָה. אָמַר לָהֶם: אֵינִי אוֹמֵר לָכֶם לְזַכּוֹת אֶת הַזַּכַּאי וּלְחַיֵּב אֶת הַחַיָּב, אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ לְהַחֲלִיף בַּדָּבָר **אֵל אֱמוּנָה וְאֵין עָוֶל**.

**Trans. by Marty Jaffee, 2015:**
5. Another word:
“The Rock*, perfect* in all His deeds” (Dt. 32:4)—
When Moses descended from Mt. Sinai,
Israel gathered around him.
They said:
Master Moses! Tell us:
how does the quality of Judgment operate Up There?
He replied to them: I wouldn’t say that it always
exonerates the innocent and condemns the guilty.
For, actually, it also works in reverse!
“A truthful God, without duplicity,
*righteous* and *upright* is He!” (Dt. 32:4)