Rabbi Shimon bar Abba said: “Behold it was very good [tov me’od]” – this is the [divine] attribute of benevolence [midat tov], “and behold it was very good” – this is the [divine] attribute of strict punishment. Is the attribute of strict punishment, then, “very good”? Rather, He works conscientiously on the punishment, in which manner to bring it.17God makes sure to produce a punishment that corresponds to the person’s misdeed, so that he and others can understand what brought it about and improve their behavior accordingly.
Rabbi Simon said in the name of Rabbi Shimon bar Abba: All the [original divine] measures are now void,18All the processes that God used in creating the world. but the [principle of] measure for measure19The principle that God grants reward and punishment in a manner that corresponds to a person’s acts. has not been voided. Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: From the beginning of the creation of the world, the Holy One blessed be He foresaw [the principle] that in accordance with the measure that a person metes out for others, so is it meted out for him. That is why the Sages said: “And behold it was very good” – this is the attribute of beneficence.