Quote from The Inner Journey
The Inner Journey: Views from the Jewish Tradition edited by Rabbi Jack Bemporad from the Parabola Anthology Series
Abraham's Prayers and Sodom's Sins
Abraham drew near and said:
"Shall not the Judge of all the earth exercise justice?" (Gen.18:23 and 18:25).
According to R. Levi, the verse means that Abraham said:
If you seek to have a world, strict justice cannot be exercised;
and if You seek strict justice, there will be no world.
Do You expect to take hold of the well's rope at both ends? You desire a world
and You also desire justice? You can only have one of the two.
If You do not relent a little, the world will not endure.
--Bereshit Rabba 39.6, 4.9
Abraham's Prayers and Sodom's Sins
Abraham drew near and said:
"Shall not the Judge of all the earth exercise justice?" (Gen.18:23 and 18:25).
According to R. Levi, the verse means that Abraham said:
If you seek to have a world, strict justice cannot be exercised;
and if You seek strict justice, there will be no world.
Do You expect to take hold of the well's rope at both ends? You desire a world
and You also desire justice? You can only have one of the two.
If You do not relent a little, the world will not endure.
--Bereshit Rabba 39.6, 4.9