This week, we continue with translating the Chofetz Chaim’s Sefer entitled, “Sefas Tamim.” Sefas Tamim, from which our foundation takes its name, focuses on the importance of honesty in word and deed. We continue to translate Chapter 1, “Defining Deceit”.
“Chazal have further said that the signature of HaKadosh Boruch Hu is ‘truth.’ With absolute certainty, if ‘truth’ is what HaKadosh Boruch Hu determined to use as His signature, how so very ugly and disgusting is the person who has accustomed himself to the very opposite character trait. HaKadosh Boruch Hu has warned us very sternly regarding ‘truth’ and has said (Zecharyah 8:16-17) ‘Speak truth with each other... do not harbor bad thoughts about your friend in your heart, and do not love lying oaths, because these are all of the things that I hate.’
Shlomo HaMelech has taught (Mishlei 12:19) ‘Words spoken truthfully, will endure forever but a lying tongue only for a moment.’ Shlomo HaMelech means to warn us about our speech to express only the truth and to be careful not to lie. One who always expresses himself honestly and is careful in his speech to express himself truthfully, that speech will be successful and will endure forever. People will believe him in whatever he says since people will uphold him as a man of truth, because he has accustomed himself throughout his life to speak only the truth. However, regarding a person who has a lying tongue, people will believe him only for a moment, because the people who listen to him will believe him for a short while, but later when they examine his words and investigate what he said, they will conclude that his words were lies. And so, this text comes to warn people to be pure in expressing themselves and to speak only the truth.”
