ישעיהו, פרק ל״ב, פסוק י״ז

Engaging in charity and fulfilling God's Commandments naturally brings about a reality of tranquility, security, and success. Historically, this ideal was actually realized during the reign of King Hezekiah, an era defined by boundless peace [אבן עזרא].

The primary approach among commentators views the dual expressions of action and work as a way to emphasize the profound reward for righteous behavior. By engaging in charitable acts, humanity earns lasting peace, quiet, and eternal security [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, שד״ל]. Alternatively, rather than describing a future reward, these concepts can be understood as illustrating the very atmosphere in which charity will be given. Righteous acts will be performed in a setting of complete peace, requiring no exhausting effort. Anyone in need will receive help reliably and permanently [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Taking a completely different path, another perspective rejects the idea of poetic repetition and instead reveals a clear spiritual hierarchy in both human effort and divine reward. In this view, work represents a heavier, more demanding labor than simple action [רד״ק], just as quiet and eternal security represent a higher spiritual reality than standard, everyday peace. This distinction perfectly mirrors two types of Commandments. The action of righteousness refers to rational laws, such as ethics and faith. People perform these willingly because their benefits are obvious, and therefore the reward is a standard level of peace. However, the work of righteousness refers to divine statutes—laws without an obvious human logic. Fulfilling these requires the total submission of a servant obeying God without fully understanding His reasons. Because these laws demand greater effort and self-nullification, they earn a much greater, eternal reward of absolute quiet and security forever [מלבי״ם].