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 in deed. We now continue with our translation of Chapter 2, which discusses the great punishment that awaits those that are deceitful.
“Furthermore, it seems obvious why the Midrash framed this incident in the context of Noach, because until the appearance of Noach, there existed in this world the, ‘Attribute of Slow to Anger’ for the sin of theft which was rampant. The majority of the world's people lied and deceived very, very much, just as they committed all other sins. Thus, when an evil person realized that dishonest money earned by stealing and theft had a presence in the world for hundreds of years for himself and his descendants after him, for generations, the prohibition against theft became meaningless to him, and he devoted his entire life to violating this sin. Accordingly, the world was filled with theft.
However, after the generation of the flood, HaKadosh Baruch Hu implemented new rules of conduct for the peoples of the world that whatever was gained by virtue of deceit and lying would be taken away by “Losses” as the Passuk says, (Yirmiyah 17:11), ‘One who accumulates wealth illegally, that wealth will leave him at the half point of his life.’ People will see this and will be afraid of the consequences of lies and theft. In addition, the wealth he accumulated by lies and deceit will also consume the wealth he already earned legally. This concept is expressed in Masechet Derech Eretz: If you take something that does not belong to you, then what does belong to you will be taken away from you and nothing will be left in your possession, except for the sin of theft and deceit.”
