686. 'Thou art just, O Lord, Who Is and Who Was, and art Holy, because Thou hast judged these things' signifies that this is of the Divine Providence of the Lord, Who is and Who was the Word, and the Divine Truth Itself, which otherwise would be profaned. 'Thou art just, O Lord, because Thou hast judged these things' signifies that this is of the Lord's Divine Providence, concerning which [something] follows. 'Who Is and Who Was' signifies the Lord as to the Word, that He is and that He was the Word, according to John i 1, 2, 14. The reason that here is understood the Lord as to the Word is because it treats of the understanding of the Word with those who belong to the Church. The many things that are signified by 'Is and Was', 'the Beginning and the Ending', 'the First and the Last', 'Alpha and Omega', where said of the Lord, maybe seen above (n. 13, 29-31, 38, 57). By His being 'Holy' is signified that He is Divine Truth Itself (n. 173, 586, 666). From these things it is plain that by 'Thou art just, O Lord, Who Is and Who Was, and art Holy, because Thou hast judged these things' is signified that this is of the Divine Providence of the Lord, Who Is and Was the Word and Divine Truth Itself. [2] The reason why it is of the Lord's Divine Providence that those who are in faith alone falsify the truths of the Word, is because if they were to know them as far as to think interiorly of them, they would profane them. For they are in evils, because they do not flee from evils as sins, nor do they approach the Lord directly; and therefore if they were to receive the genuine truths of the Word, they would mix them together with the evils of their own life, which would give rise to the profanation of what is holy. Therefore it is among the laws of permission, which are also laws of Divine Providence, that they should of themselves falsify truths, and this to the same extent as they are in evils of life. That there is a Divine Providence so that those who are in evils of life cannot but be in untruths of doctrine lest the Divine Truths of the Word should be profaned, may be seen in ANGELIC WISDOM CONCERNING DIVINE PROVIDENCE (n. 221-233, and 257 at the end).