Selection from Arcana Coelestia ~ Emanuel Swedenborg
That "righteousness" has regard to good, and "judgment" to truth, is evident from the signification of "righteousness," and from the signification of "judgment."In the Word, "righteousness and judgment" are many times named together, but what they signify in the internal sense has not yet been known.
In the proximate sense "righteousness" is predicated of what is righteous or just [justus], and "judgment" of what is right [rectus].
There is what is righteous when anything is judged from good, and this according to conscience; but what is right when anything is judged from the law, and thus from the righteousness of the law, thus also according to conscience, because it has the law for its rule.But in the internal sense "righteousness" denotes that which is from good, and "judgment" that which is from truth.
Good is all that which belongs to love and charity; truth is all that which belongs to the derivative faith. Truth derives its essence from good, and is called truth from good, just as faith derives its essence from love, and in the same way judgment from righteousness.
That such is the signification of "righteousness and judgment" is evident from the following passages in the Word. In Jeremiah:
Thus saith Jehovah, Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and rescue the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor. Woe to him that buildeth his house in that which is not righteousness and his chambers in that which is not judgment. Did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and righteousness? Then he had that which is good (Jer. 22:3, 13, 15),where "judgment" denotes the things that are of truth, and "righteousness" the things that are of good. In Ezekiel:
If the wicked shall return from his sin, and do judgment and righteousness, all his sins that he hath sinned shall not be mentioned unto him; he hath done judgment and righteousness: he shall surely live. When the wicked turns himself from his wickedness, and does judgment and righteousness, for these he shall live (Ezek. 33:14, 16, 19),where in like manner "judgment" denotes truth, which is of faith; and "righteousness" good, which is of charity.
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It is especially said of the Lord that He "does judgment and righteousness," when He creates man anew as in Jeremiah:Let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am Jehovah that doeth mercy, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I am well pleased (Jer. 9:24),where mercy, which is of love, is described by "judgment and righteousness."
In the same:
I will raise up unto David a righteous offshoot, and He shall reign as King, and shall act intelligently, and shall do judgement and righteousness in the earth (Jer. 23:5; 33:15).Hence it is said in John:
If I go away, I will send the Comforter unto you; and when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because they believe not on Me; of righteousness, because I go unto My Father, and ye shall see Me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged (John 16:7-11)."Sin" here denotes all unfaithfulness.
His "reproving in regard to righteousness" means in regard to all that is against good, when yet the Lord united the Human to the Divine to save the world - which is the meaning of "I go unto My Father and ye shall see Me no more."
His "reproving in regard to judgment" means in regard to all that is against truth, when yet evils were cast down into their hells so as no longer to be able to inflict injury - which is meant by the prince of the world being judged.
In general, His "reproving in regard to sin, righteousness, and judgment," means that it was in regard to all unfaithfulness against good and truth; and thus that there was no charity and faith; for in ancient times by righteousness and judgment were understood, as regards the Lord, all mercy and grace; and as regards man, all charity and faith.
(from Arcana Coelestia 2235)