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.
צָרִיךְ לְהִתְיָרֵא וְלִפְחֹד מִן הַכָּבוֹד, כִּי כָּבוֹד הוּא סַכָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה, סַכָּנוֹת נְפָשׁוֹת, כִּי הוּא דָּן אֶת כָּל הַדִּינִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהילים כ״ד:ז׳): מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד, כִּי כָּבוֹד הוּא בְּחִינַת מַלְכוּת, הַדָּן אֶת הַכֹּל. וַאֲזַי הַכֹּל חוֹקְרִים וְשׁוֹאֲלִין: מִי הוּא זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד, אִם הוּא רָאוּי לָזֶה.
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.
וְזֶה שֶׁכָּתוּב (שמות כ״ט:מ״ג): וְנִקְדַּשׁ בִּכְבוֹדִי – אַל תִּקְרֵי בִּכְבוֹדִי, אֶלָּא בִּמְכֻבָּדִי (זבחים קטו:), כִּי עַל־יְדֵי הַכָּבוֹד יוּכַל לִגְרֹם לוֹ מִיתָה, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וַאֲזַי הוּא נִשְׁקָל בְּמֹאזְנַיִם, אִם, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, יִפְגֹּם בְּהַכָּבוֹד כְּחוּט הַשַּׂעֲרָה, שֶׁלֹּא יְקַבְּלוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁצָּרִיךְ, אֲזַי, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כַּף חוֹבָה מַכְרַעַת.
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.
וְזֶה נִקְרָא: מֹאזְנֵי צֶדֶק (ויקרא י״ט:ל״ו), כִּי צֶדֶק מַלְכוּתָא קַדִּישָׁא, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת כָּבוֹד, מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד כַּנַּ"ל. וְהַיְנוּ מֹאזְנֵי צֶדֶק, כִּי אָז נִשְׁקָל בְּמֹאזְנַיִם:
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.