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.

939. Lord God Almighty. That this signifies because He is Divine Good, is evident from the signification of Omnipotence, as denoting to be, to exist, to be able, and to live from Himself (concerning which see n. 43, 689); and because all goods and truths are from Him, because in Him, it is said "Lord God." For Lord is said of Divine Good, and God of Divine truth. And because He is omnipotent from Divine Good by means of Divine truth, it is said "Lord God Almighty."

That the Lord is called Lord in the Word from Divine Good may be seen above (n. 685); and God from Divine truth (n. 24, 220, 688).

Continuation:-

[2] It is known that man's internal must be purified before the good which he does is good. For the Lord says,

"Thou blind Pharisee, purge first the inside of the cup and platter, that the outside may be clean also" (Matthew 13:26).

Man's internal is purified only as he desists from evils, according to the precepts of the Decalogue. Those evils, so long as he has not desisted from them, and does not shun and turn away from them as sins, constitute his internal, and are like an interposed veil or covering; and it appears in heaven as an eclipse, by which the sun is obscured and the light intercepted; it is also like a fountain of pitch or of black water, from which nothing emanates but impurity. What does emanate from it, and appears before the world as good, still is not good, because it is defiled by the evils from within; for it is Pharisaical and hypocritical good. This good is good from man, and it is also merit-seeking good. The case is different when evils are removed by a life according to the precepts of the Decalogue.

[3] Now because evils are to be removed before goods can become goods, therefore the Ten Precepts were the primary things of the Word; for they were promulgated from Mount Sinai, before the Word was written by Moses and the Prophets. And in them the goods that are to be done are not contained, but the evils that are to be shunned. Therefore also these precepts are taught first in the churches; for they are taught to the boys and girls, in order that a man may commence his Christian life by means of them, and by no means forget them as he grows up; as, nevertheless, does take place.

Similar things are meant by these words in Isaiah:

"What to me is the multitude of sacrifices? Your meat-offering, your incense, your new moons, and your stated feasts, my soul hateth. Also though you multiply prayer, I will not hear. Wash you; make you clean; remove the wickedness of your works from before mine eyes: cease to do evil. Then, though your sins were as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they were red as crimson, they shall be as wool" (1:11-18).

By sacrifices, meat-offerings, incense, new moons, and feasts, also by prayer, are meant everything of worship. That they are altogether evil, even abominable, unless the interior is purified from evils, is meant by, wash you; make you clean; remove the wickedness of your works; and cease to do evil. That, afterwards they are all goods, is meant by the words which there follow.