979. Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and just are thy judgments. That this signifies that these things take place, because from Divine Good and Divine truth are all essence, life, and power, is evident from the signification of Lord God, as denoting the Lord as to Divine Good and as to Divine truth. For the Lord is called Lord from Divine good, and God from Divine truth; and from the signification of Almighty, as denoting to be, to live, and to be able from Himself (see n. 43, 689, 939); hence also denoting that He is the Esse, the Life, and the power of all; for these things are the Lord from Himself, but are man from the Lord; and from the signification of Thy judgments, as denoting things accomplished, namely, those that are mentioned above in verse 6. That this is meant by judgments, is evident from verse 5, where it is said, Thou art just, O Lord, and holy, because Thou hast judged these things. These judgments are called true from the Divine truth, and are called just from the Divine Good; from these two all things are effected. That just is said of the Divine Good may be seen above (n. 972).

These words, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and just are thy judgments," involve the same as the words in verse 5, namely, "Thou art just, O Lord, who is, and who was, and art holy, because thou hast judged these things." The only difference is, that the latter were spoken from the Lord's spiritual kingdom, but the former, from His celestial kingdom. "Even so," is an expression confirmative of the statements from the spiritual kingdom; that they involve the same things, see above (n. 972, 973, 974).

Continuation concerning the Fifth Precept:-

[2] From what has been said above, it is now evident what is meant in the Word by good works, that is, all works that are done by man while evils are being removed as sins. For the works afterwards done are not done by man otherwise than as of himself, for they are done from the Lord. And the works done from the Lord are all good, and are called the goods of life, the goods of charity, and good works. For example: all the judgments of a judge who regards justice as the end, and venerates and loves it as Divine, and who also detests, as infamous, judgments given for the sake of rewards, friendship, or favour. In acting in this way he consults the good of his country by causing justice and judgment to reign therein as in heaven; and thus he consults the peace of all harmless citizens, and guards them from the violence of evil-doers; all these are good works. Also the various offices of administrators, and the dealings of merchants are all good works, when they shun unlawful gains as sins against the Divine laws.

When a man shuns evils as sins, he then daily learns what a good work is, and the love of doing good and the love of knowing truths for the sake of good grow with him. For so far as he knows truths, so far he can perform works more fully and more wisely, whence his works become more truly good.

Cease therefore to inquire in thyself, "What are the good works that I shall do, or what good shall I do that I may receive life eternal?" Only abstain from evils as sins, and look to the Lord, and the Lord will teach and lead thee.

972. Thou art just, O Lord, who is, and who was. That this signifies the Lord as to Divine good from eternity, is evident from the signification of just, when predicated of the Lord, as denoting Divine good; for just, in the Word, is said of good, and holy of truth (see above n. 204); and from the signification of, who is, and who was, as denoting the Infinite and Eternal. For Is and Was is the same as Jehovah. And the Lord in the Word is called Jehovah from Divine good, and God from Divine truth. And Esse, when said of the Lord, is to be from Himself, which is in Himself; and Existere, when said of Him, is also to exist from Himself and in Himself. And the Existere, in the relative sense, is the Esse in all things of heaven and the church, which is effected by Divine truth. This Esse is meant by eternal; for eternal, when said of the Lord, is understood in heaven apart from any idea of time, thus different from the understanding of it in the world. For eternal in the angelic idea is the state of the Divine Existence, which yet makes one with the Divine Essence, which is Jehovah. The Infinite as to Esse is signified by the "Is" in Jehovah; and the Infinite as to Existere is signified by the "Was" in Jehovah. The Infinite Existere, which also is Eternal, is the proceeding Divine, from which is heaven and everything pertaining to it. The Divine Existere is also the Divine Esse; but it is called Existere with respect to heaven, where it is the all in all.

Continuation concerning the Fifth Precept:-

He who abstains from thefts, understood in a broad sense, in fact, he who shuns them from any other reason than religion and for the sake of life eternal, is not purified from them; for no other reason opens heaven. For the Lord, by means of heaven, removes evils with man, as by this He also removes the hells.

For example, administrators of goods higher and lower, merchants, judges, officers of every kind, and labourers, who abstain from theft, that is from unlawful modes of gain and usury, and also shun them, but only for the sake of reputation, and, consequently, of honour and gain, or for the sake of civil and moral laws, in a word, from any natural love or fear, thus because of external bonds alone, and not because of religion - such persons are still, as to their interior life, full of the desire to thieve and plunder, which also breaks out when external bonds are removed. This is the case with every one after death. Their sincerity and rectitude is merely a mask, disguise, and cunning.