The Power of Thought and Speech
לֹא תֵלֵךְ רָכִיל בְּעַמֶּיךָ וגו’: (ויקרא יט:טז)
[G‑d instructed Moses to tell the Jewish people,] “You must not go around as a gossipmonger.”
According to the Talmud, gossip “kills” three people: the speaker, the listener, and the object of the gossip. That the speaker and listener deserve to be punished is understandable, but why should the person about whom they are gossiping suffer? The answer is that speaking about another person’s shortcomings does more than just belittle him. Words have the power to bring latent energy into actuality. When we speak about a person’s negative traits, it activates them and reinforces them. As a result, his behavior takes a turn for the worse and he thus incurs punishment (…)
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Tehillim – Psalms – Chapter 62 (4-5)
4 How long will you plan destruction to man? You shall be murdered, all of you, as a leaning wall, a tottering fence.
ד עַד־אָ֚נָה | תְּהֽוֹתְת֣וּ עַל־אִישׁ֘ תְּרָצְּח֪וּ כֻ֫לְּכֶ֥ם כְּקִ֥יר נָט֑וּי גָּ֜דֵ֗ר הַדְּחוּיָֽה:
5 Only because of his loftiness have they plotted to topple him; they delight in lies; with his mouth they bless, but inwardly they curse forever.
ה אַ֚ךְ מִשְּׂאֵת֨וֹ | יָֽעֲצ֣וּ לְהַדִּיחַ֘ יִרְצ֪וּ כָ֫זָ֥ב בְּפִ֥יו יְבָרֵ֑כוּ וּ֜בְקִרְבָּ֗ם יְקַֽלְלוּ־סֶֽלָה:
Tehillim – Psalms – Chapter 62
1 For the conductor, on jeduthun, a song of David.
א לַֽמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַל־יְדוּת֗וּן מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד:
2 Only to God does my soul hope for silently; from Him is my salvation.
ב אַ֣ךְ אֶל־אֱ֖לֹהִים דֽוּמִיָּ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י מִ֜מֶּ֗נּוּ יְשֽׁוּעָתִֽי:
3 Only He is my Rock and my salvation, my stronghold so that I shall not falter greatly.
ג אַךְ־ה֣וּא צ֖וּרִי וִישֽׁוּעָתִ֑י מִ֜שְׂגַּבִּ֗י לֹֽא־אֶמּ֥וֹט רַבָּֽה:
4 How long will you plan destruction to man? You shall be murdered, all of you, as a leaning wall, a tottering fence.
ד עַד־אָ֚נָה | תְּהֽוֹתְת֣וּ עַל־אִישׁ֘ תְּרָצְּח֪וּ כֻ֫לְּכֶ֥ם כְּקִ֥יר נָט֑וּי גָּ֜דֵ֗ר הַדְּחוּיָֽה:
5 Only because of his loftiness have they plotted to topple him; they delight in lies; with his mouth they bless, but inwardly they curse forever.
ה אַ֚ךְ מִשְּׂאֵת֨וֹ | יָֽעֲצ֣וּ לְהַדִּיחַ֘ יִרְצ֪וּ כָ֫זָ֥ב בְּפִ֥יו יְבָרֵ֑כוּ וּ֜בְקִרְבָּ֗ם יְקַֽלְלוּ־סֶֽלָה:
6 Only to God should you hope, my soul, for my hope is from Him.
ו אַ֣ךְ לֵֽ֖אלֹהִים דֹּ֣מִּי נַפְשִׁ֑י כִּֽי־מִ֜מֶּ֗נּוּ תִּקְוָתִֽי:
7 Only He is my Rock and my salvation; my stronghold, I shall not falter.
ז אַךְ־ה֣וּא צ֖וּרִי וִישֽׁוּעָתִ֑י מִ֜שְׂגַּבִּ֗י לֹ֣א אֶמּֽוֹט:
8 Upon God rests my salvation and my honor; [He is] the Rock of my strength, my shelter is in God.
ח עַל־אֱ֖לֹהִים יִשְׁעִ֣י וּכְבוֹדִ֑י צוּר־עֻזִּ֥י מַ֜חְסִ֗י בֵּֽאלֹהִֽים:
9 Trust in Him at all times; people, pour out your hearts before Him. God is our shelter forever.
ט בִּטְחוּ־ב֚וֹ בְכָל־עֵ֨ת | עָ֗ם שִׁפְכ֣וּ לְפָנָ֣יו לְבַבְכֶ֑ם אֱ֜לֹהִ֗ים מַֽחֲסֶה־לָּ֥נוּ סֶֽלָה:
10 The sons of men are but vanity, and men of distinction are deceitful; were they to be put on a scale, together they would equal vanity.
י אַ֚ךְ הֶ֥בֶל בְּנֵי־אָדָם֘ כָּזָ֪ב בְּנֵ֫י אִ֥ישׁ בְּמֹֽאזְנַ֥יִם לַֽעֲל֑וֹת הֵ֜֗מָּה מֵהֶ֥בֶל יָֽחַד:
11 Do not trust in oppression, and do not put vain hope in robbery; if wealth burgeons, pay it no heed.
יא אַל־תִּבְטְח֣וּ בְעֹשֶׁק֘ וּבְגָזֵ֪ל אַל־תֶּ֫הְבָּ֥לוּ חַ֚יִל | כִּֽי־יָנ֑וּב אַל־תָּשִׁ֥יתוּ לֵֽב:
12 God spoke one thing, I heard two, for God has strength.
יב אַחַ֚ת | דִּבֶּ֬ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים שְׁתַּֽיִם־ז֥וּ שָׁמָ֑עְתִּי כִּ֥י עֹ֜֗ז לֵֽאלֹהִֽים:
13 And You, O Lord, have kindness, for You repay a man according to his deed.
יג וּלְךָ־אֲדֹנָ֥י חָ֑סֶד כִּֽי־אַתָּ֨ה תְשַׁלֵּ֖ם לְאִ֣ישׁ כְּמַֽעֲשֵֽׂהוּ:
Tehillim – Psalms – Chapter 63
1 A song of David when he was in the desert of Judah.
א מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד בִּ֜הְיוֹת֗וֹ בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר יְהוּדָֽה:
2 O God, You are my God, I seek You. My soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You, in an arid and thirsty land, without water.
ב אֱלֹהִ֚ים | אֵלִ֥י אַתָּ֗ה אֲשַֽׁחֲ֫רֶ֥ךָּ צָֽמְאָ֬ה לְךָ֨ | נַפְשִׁ֗י כָּמַ֣הּ לְךָ֣ בְשָׂרִ֑י בְּאֶֽרֶץ־צִיָּ֖ה וְעָיֵ֣ף בְּלִי־מָֽיִם:
3 As I saw You in the Sanctuary, [so do I long] to see Your strength and Your glory.
ג כֵּן בַּקֹּ֣דֶשׁ חֲזִיתִ֑ךָ לִרְא֥וֹת עֻ֜זְּךָ֗ וּכְבוֹדֶֽךָ:
4 For Your kindness is better than life; my lips will praise You.
ד כִּֽי־ט֣וֹב חַ֖סְדְּךָ מֵֽחַיִּ֗ים שְׂפָתַ֥י יְשַׁבְּחֽוּנְךָ:
5 Then I shall bless You in my lifetime; in Your name I shall lift my hands.
ה כֵּן אֲבָֽרֶכְךָ֣ בְחַיָּ֑י בְּ֜שִׁמְךָ֗ אֶשָּׂ֥א כַפָּֽי:
6 [As] with choice foods and fat, my soul will be sated, when my mouth praises with expressions of song.
ו כְּמ֚וֹ חֵ֣לֶב וָ֖דֶשֶׁן תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע נַפְשִׁ֑י וְשִׂפְתֵ֥י רְ֜נָנ֗וֹת יְהַלֶּל־פִּֽי:
7 When I remember You on my couch; in the watches I meditate about You.
ז אִם־זְכַרְתִּ֥יךָ עַל־יְצוּעָ֑י בְּ֜אַשְׁמֻר֗וֹת אֶהְגֶּה־בָּֽךְ:
8 For You were my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I shall praise.
ח כִּֽי־הָיִ֣יתָ עֶזְרָ֣תָה לִּ֑י וּבְצֵ֖ל כְּנָפֶ֣יךָ אֲרַנֵּֽן:
9 My soul has clung after You; Your right hand has supported me.
ט דָּֽבְקָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֣י אַֽחֲרֶ֑יךָ בִּ֜֗י תָּֽמְכָ֥ה יְמִינֶֽךָ:
10 But they seek my soul to make it desolate; may they come into the depths of the earth.
י וְהֵ֗מָּה לְ֖שׁוֹאָה יְבַקְשׁ֣וּ נַפְשִׁ֑י יָ֜בֹ֗אוּ בְּתַחְתִּיּ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ:
11 May he be dragged by the sword; they will be the portion of foxes.
יא יַגִּירֻ֥הוּ עַל־יְדֵי־חָ֑רֶב מְנָ֖ת שֻֽׁעָלִ֣ים יִֽהְיֽוּ:
12 And may the king rejoice with God; may all who swear by Him boast, for the mouth of those who speak lies will be closed.
יב וְהַמֶּלֶךְ֘ יִשְׂמַ֪ח בֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים יִ֖תְהַלֵּל כָּל־הַנִּשְׁבָּ֣ע בּ֑וֹ כִּ֥י יִ֜סָּכֵ֗ר פִּ֣י דּֽוֹבְרֵי־שָֽׁקֶר:
Tehillim – Psalms – Chapter 64(6-8)
6 They strengthen the evil word for themselves; they tell to hide snares. They say, “Who will see us?”
ו יְחַזְּקוּ־לָ֨מוֹ | דָּבָ֨ר רָ֗ע יְ֖סַפְּרוּ לִטְמ֣וֹן מֽוֹקְשִׁ֑ים אָֽ֜מְר֗וּ מִ֣י יִרְאֶה־לָּֽמוֹ:
7 They seek pretexts; they have completed a diligent search, hidden within man and in the depths of the heart.
ז יַֽחְפְּשׂ֥וּ עוֹלֹ֗ת תַּ֖מְּנוּ חֵ֣פֶשׂ מְחֻפָּ֑שׂ וְקֶ֥רֶב אִ֜֗ישׁ וְלֵ֣ב עָמֹֽק:
8 And God cast them down; their wounds were [like] a sudden arrow.
ח וַיֹּרֵ֗ם אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים חֵ֥ץ פִּתְא֑וֹם הָי֥וּ מַכּוֹתָֽם:
Tehillim – Psalms – Chapter 64
1 For the conductor, a song of David.
א לַֽמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד:
2 Hear, O God, my voice in my prayer; from fear of the enemy You shall guard my life.
ב שְׁמַ֬ע אֱלֹהִ֣ים קוֹלִ֣י בְשִׂיחִ֑י מִפַּ֣חַד א֜וֹיֵ֗ב תִּצֹּ֥ר חַיָּֽי:
3 You shall hide me from the counsel of evildoers, from the gathering of workers of iniquity,
ג תַּסְתִּירֵנִי מִסּ֣וֹד מְרֵעִ֑ים מֵֽ֜רִגְשַׁ֗ת פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן:
4 Who whetted their tongue like the sword; who aimed a bitter word like their arrow,
ד אֲשֶׁ֚ר שָֽׁנְנ֣וּ כַחֶ֣רֶב לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם דָּֽרְכ֥וּ חִ֜צָּ֗ם דָּבָ֥ר מָֽר:
5 To shoot at the innocent in secret places; they shoot at him suddenly and do not fear.
ה לִירֹ֣ת בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֣ים תָּ֑ם פִּתְאֹ֥ם יֹ֜רֻ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א יִירָֽאוּ:
6 They strengthen the evil word for themselves; they tell to hide snares. They say, “Who will see us?”
ו יְחַזְּקוּ־לָ֨מוֹ | דָּבָ֨ר רָ֗ע יְ֖סַפְּרוּ לִטְמ֣וֹן מֽוֹקְשִׁ֑ים אָֽ֜מְר֗וּ מִ֣י יִרְאֶה־לָּֽמוֹ:
7 They seek pretexts; they have completed a diligent search, hidden within man and in the depths of the heart.
ז יַֽחְפְּשׂ֥וּ עוֹלֹ֗ת תַּ֖מְּנוּ חֵ֣פֶשׂ מְחֻפָּ֑שׂ וְקֶ֥רֶב אִ֜֗ישׁ וְלֵ֣ב עָמֹֽק:
8 And God cast them down; their wounds were [like] a sudden arrow.
ח וַיֹּרֵ֗ם אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים חֵ֥ץ פִּתְא֑וֹם הָי֥וּ מַכּוֹתָֽם:
9 That which they hoped would make him stumble, their tongue brought upon them; all who see them will shake their heads.
ט וַיַּכְשִׁילֻ֣הוּ עָלֵ֣ימוֹ לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם יִ֜תְנֽוֹדְד֗וּ כָּל־רֹ֥אֵה בָֽם:
10 Then all men feared, and they declared the work of God and understood His deed.
י וַיִּֽירְא֗וּ כָּל־אָ֫דָ֥ם וַ֖יַּגִּידוּ פֹּ֣עַל אֱלֹהִ֑ים וּמַֽעֲשֵׂ֥הוּ הִשְׂכִּֽילוּ:
11 The righteous will rejoice with God and take shelter in Him, and all upright of heart will boast.
יא יִשְׂמַ֬ח צַדִּ֣יק בַּֽ֖יהֹוָה וְחָ֣סָה ב֑וֹ וְ֜יִֽתְהַֽלְל֗וּ כָּל־יִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב:
Rita Sibbick 