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.
“The fruit and grains of the earth all rot only in response to the way man behaves. Man will not come to be disgraced only because of his behavior. Man's eyes do not become weak at the half point of his life only because of the way he lives his life. This means that man will bring himself to these conditions in life only by virtue of the lies and crimes that he commits...
The Midrash Shocher Tov (Mizmor Zayin) illustrates this same idea by way of an incident and ensuing lesson, ‘Two by two, they came to Noach.’ Lies came to Noach and wanted to board the Teiva. Noach said to Lies, ‘I cannot let you board the Teiva unless you bring a mate with you.’ Losses, (meaning Losses and Damages), approached Lies and asked what his intent was. Lies said to Losses, ‘Come and partner with me. Noach told me that I could not board the Teiva unless my mate accompanied me, and only then could I board it. If you want to, you can be my partner.’ Losses answered, ‘And what will you give me?’ Lies answered him, ‘We will go together into this, whatever gain I accumulate, you can take for yourself.’ At that point, they both agreed to become partners, and everything earned by Lies would be taken away by Losses - and both of them boarded the Teiva together.
Once they disembarked from the Teiva, Lies began to accumulate objects of value. As quickly as Lies would accumulate articles, Losses would take them away. Lies confronted Losses and said, ‘Where are all the articles I acquired?’ Losses answered back, ‘We made an agreement that whatever you gain, I would take away.’ Lies could not answer that argument. Thus it is said (Tehillim 7:15): ‘Scheming became pregnant and gave birth to Lies’ – this is the end of the Midrash.”
