Sefer HaMiddot, Slander, Part I/ספר המדות·לשון הרע·חלק ראשון

1When a person is guilty of slander, the Holy One says to the ministering angel of hell, “I [will judge him] from above and you from below.” His rectification is to engage in Torah study and humble himself. This will also keep him from slandering further.

2Slandering others increases the measure of one’s guilt equivalent to the three cardinal sins (idolatry, immorality and murder).

3Speaking negatively about a person in his presence, or in the company of three other people, is not considered slander.

4Although words of slander should not be accepted, one has to be wary [that they may be true].

5Whoever speaks badly of the Jewish people will in the end suffer from a diseased mouth.

6When there is no love among Jews, they gossip about each other, and then turn scornful on account of their talebearing.

7When there is love between fellow Jews, one is permitted to tell the other something that he heard from a third party. The one who hears it can accept what he was told without being guilty of accepting slander.

8A person guilty of slander loses his desire for Torah study and also shames the Tzaddik.

9Truth saves one from slandering others.

10Guarding against slander keeps one from plotting evil against his fellow Jews.

11Whoever refuses to accept slander about the Tzaddik merits being counted among the righteous.

12Haughtiness leads a person to speak disparagingly of others.

13One does not speak slander unless he has first been guilty of denying the Holy One. He thus sins against God and man.

14It is permissible to speak slanderously of a person who instigates strife and conflict.

15A person guilty of giving a fellow Jew a bad name is never pardoned.

16A person guilty of slander cannot receive the Divine Presence.

17Both the one who speaks slander and the one who accepts it deserve to be thrown to the dogs.

18Reciting the Torah section on the Temple incense-offering (Exodus 30:34-38) is a rectification for slander.

19A person guilty of slander will be afflicted with leprosy. His crime is so great, that it reaches the heavens and he deserves to be stoned.