9979. The Lord alone has earned merit, for He alone, by His own efforts, has conquered the hells and subdued them. Consequently the Lord alone is merit and righteousness.

4006. 'And all the speckled and spotted she-goats' means every good of truth among which evil and falsity have been mingled. This is clear from the meaning of 'she-goats' as the goods of truth, dealt with in 3995, in this case the forms of good that are coupled with truths, dealt with immediately above in 4005; from the meaning of 'speckled' as the forms of good with which evils have been mingled; and from the meaning of 'spotted' as truths with which falsities have been mingled, dealt with in 3993, 3995.