Psalm of David: "Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my plea," etc. Solomon said (Proverbs 20:8-9), "A king who sits on the throne of justice scatters all evil with his eyes. Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart,' etc.?" Who can stand on the day of judgment and say, "I am pure, free of sin?" No one can stand, as it is written (Malachi 3:2), "And who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears?"
Similarly, Jeremiah said (Jeremiah 30:6), "Ask now and see, can a male give birth? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor? And why have all faces turned pale?" No one on that day will have a pleasant face, as all faces will turn pale.
Even Abraham over Ishmael, Isaac over Esau, and the Lord over Israel on their behalf, as it is said (Malachi 3:2), "And all faces will turn pale." David said to the Lord, "I beg of You, answer me and do justice with me on that day." Therefore it says, "Lord, hear my prayer," etc. And if You do not do justice with me, who can stand? Similarly, Job said (Job 14:13), "Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, that You would conceal me until Your wrath be past."
The Lord replied to him, "Until judgment has passed, until anger has passed." (Job 14:13-14) "Until You put an end to me, until You call me and I will answer You." David also said (Psalm 143:2), "Do not enter into judgment with Your servant," etc. David said before the Lord, "At the judgment, You bring me, but there is a servant who comes to judgment with his master. And thus it is written (Psalm 119:94), "I am Yours, save me," etc. Why does everything belong to You, O Lord, and everything that belongs to him belongs to his Master?
And so it is said (Psalm 39:13), "Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may recover," etc. (Psalm 102:11) "Take Your hand away from me and let me be, etc." (Psalm 10:14) "You have seen, for You behold mischief and spite." (Psalm 12) "You have done life and kindness, etc. And for all of these, you establish me for judgment. Why (Psalm 14:1) is man born of a woman? (Psalm 2) Like a flower, he comes forth, etc. (Psalm 3) Yet for all this, you have opened your eyes, etc. For your sake, do not bring your servant to judgment, etc. Therefore, it is said (Proverbs 20:9), "Who can say, 'I have made my heart clean, etc.' No one can vindicate themselves in judgment.
Why (Kings I 8:46), "For there is no man who does not sin before you." And likewise it says (Ecclesiastes 7:20), "For there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins." (Job 15:15) "Even the heavens are not pure in your sight." (Psalm 25:5) "And even the stars are not pure in your sight." Therefore, it is said that no living being can be justified before you. What is "every living being?"
Every living being cannot be justified before you, but the dead are vindicated. However, the living beings on high cannot be vindicated before you on the Day of Judgment. Therefore, it is said that no living being can be justified before you....