Torah 131 · תורה קל״א

One must fear and be frightened of glory. This is because glory is very dangerous, [even] life-threatening. For [glory] exacts all judgments, as it is written (Psalms 24:7), “King of glory.” Glory is an aspect of kingship, which judges all. Therefore, everyone investigates and asks: “Who is he, this king of glory?” (ibid .:10). [They want to know] if he is deserving of this.

This is what is written, “will be sanctified with My glory” (Exodus 29:43)—do not read “My glory” but “My glorified ones” (Zevachim 115b). This is because glory can cause him to die, God forbid. He is then weighed in the balance: If he blemishes the glory as much as a hairsbreadth by not receiving it as he should, then, God forbid, the side of liability weighs more heavily.

This is called “just balances” (Leviticus 19:36). For “justice is holy kingship” (Tikkuney Zohar, Introduction), which corresponds to glory—“King of glory,” as above. Hence the term “just balances,” because he is then being weighed in the balance.