[3:1] Every person has merits and sins, (the righteous do mitzvos but sometimes do not). If a person's merits are greater than his sins, he is considered a righteous person. If his sins are greater than his merits, he is considered a sinful person. If his merits and sins are equal, he is called a beinoni¹ (half righteous half sinner). The same applies for an entire country, if the total merits of its dwellers are greater than their sins, the country is judged righteous. If their sins are greater, the country is judged wicked. The same is true for the continents and for the entire world².

[3:2] If a person's sins are greater than his merits, he is sentenced to die³. For it is written, "I have struck you ... because your sins were so many." (Jerimiyah 30:14). A country whose sins are greater than their merits will be sentenced to devastation, as it is written, "The painful cries (of the oppressed) in Sodom

1    When God our Creator judges an individual, the accuracy of weighing the scale is so fine that it is almost impossible for an individuals sins and merits to be equal. However, the mercy of God will tilt the scale for someone whose merits are somewhat less than his s