258. "Come now therefore, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me." Rabbi Chizkiyah opened the discussion with the verse: "And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness, the girdle of his loins" (Yeshayah 11:5). This verse is all the same. What new insight does it come to teach us, seeing that righteousness is faithfulness and faithfulness is righteousness? THEY ARE MERELY TWO NAMES OF MALCHUT. The girdle of his hips is also the girdle of his loins, and we do not find a verse like that.

261. Now, what two girdles are here when it says the girdle of his loins and the girdle of his hips? HE RESPONDS: Even though hips and loins are similar, they are two levels. One is above and one is below. Above at the top OF THE HIPS, it is called 'hips.' At the lower end OF THE HIPS, they are called 'loins,' as it says, "And gird sackcloth upon your loins" (Yeshayah 32:11), WHICH MEANS TO COVER THE GENITALS. THEREFORE, HE CALLS THEM LOINS BECAUSE THEY ARE at the end OF THE HIPS and at the top of the thighs. When a woman is in the pain OF LABOR, these loins are disconnected from the tops of her thighs and she places her hands on them BECAUSE OF that pain.

262. Because of that, for strength and war, IT IS SAID, "And righteousness shall be the girdle of his hips." That is how it should be, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE VIRILITY OF A MAN IS. For compassion and goodness, it is said, "And faithfulness, the girdle of his loins." In one level, MESSIAH will judge the world, MEANING WITH MALCHUT, and it dominates both sides. One, WHICH IS FAITH, THE GIRDLE OF HIS LOINS, is compassion for Yisrael and one, WHICH IS RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE GIRDLE OF HIS HIPS, is judgment for the rest of the nations.

263. You may wonder WHY righteousness is harsh judgment, since we find written: "But in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor" (Vayikra 19:15) and "Justice (lit. 'righteousness'), only justice shall you pursue" (Devarim 16:20). There are many such VERSES. HE RESPONDS: It is definite that there is no compromise in righteousness, ONLY ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW. Anyone who judges his neighbor must not compromise any laws for him, but judge according to righteousness, that love should not be a consideration. The scales of justice MEANS without compromise to one side or the other, neither to the one who will have to pay nor to the one who will receive. Because of this, it is one level that is divided into two directions. And these two directions THAT WE MENTIONED WHICH ARE two girdles are one for the rest of the nations and one for Yisrael. When Yisrael went out from Egypt, they were supported by these two girdles: one of war, WHICH IS RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE GIRDLE OF HIS HIPS, and one of peace, WHICH IS FAITH, THE GIRDLE OF HIS LOINS.