We continue with our translation of the seventh chapter of the Chofetz Chaim’s Sefas Tamim.
“Therefore, man should see to it to accustom himself to speak truthfully, as much as possible and admit the truth no matter what happens to him, either for good or for bad (apart from three things that Chazal permitted him to lie about: his learning, his relations with his wife, and his hospitality (Baba Metzia 23b), and also to keep the peace). This character trait will bring a person to do everything that is good and to refrain from everything that is bad. For example, it once happened that someone who committed every possible sin went to his rabbi to teach him the way to repent. The rabbi told him that his atonement would come as a result of being extremely careful from staying far away from a false word. In so doing, he became a sincere repentant since he washed his hands of everything evil in order not to put himself in a position where he would have to lie to avoid the embarrassment of doing something wrong. Thus, truth is like the foundation of a building, and one who embraces truth will find favor in the eyes of Hashem and man. Therefore, one must be careful to always speak the truth, which is the source of all exemplarily character traits, and Hashem will grant him success with His compassion and kindness, Amen.”
