© 2006 by Robert Lepor. All rights reserved.
Furthermore, we are able to say [another teaching from the pasuk quoted from Tehillim, which compares the attribute of silence to a trade]. The pasuk, [by comparing silence to a trade], intends [to provide us] great encouragement [to adopt the attribute of silence] by way of fear. [The person] should imagine to himself, if, Heaven Forbid, he would become a mute, and all of the doctors of the city would weary themselves to heal him from his sickness, and one great doctor comes and heals him from his horrible sickness, at no cost, would it not be fitting that he become [this doctor’s] true friend, and show the signs of his love [for the doctor] on all of his limbs. For example, would he not run [to perform] all that [the doctor] commands him? At the very least, he will never act brazenly against [the doctor], to challenge this trusted doctor with this [very same power of] speech, since in this [matter involving his speech], he healed him.
The same is precisely the case in our matter: The Creator, Yisbarach, made [people] worthy, and provided [people] with an additional soul above all animals, [that being] the speaking soul. [HaShem provided the speaking soul to people], in order, that with [the power of speech that one employs] in [his] Torah [learning] and in [the performance of] mitzvos, he is capable of meriting [life in] the eternal world. When a person transgresses with his tongue, [by] speaking that which is forbidden on many hundreds of occasions, it is fitting that [HaShem] remove his [faculty of] speech because of this [forbidden speech], and not return his speaking soul in the morning! However, The Holy One, Blessed is He, in His great mercy, is slow to anger [against this person, for] perhaps he will repent from his sin. Does he pay HaShem back [for His kindness], by continuing to speak against His Will, with [words of] Lashon HaRa, and [words of] mockery, and the other [types of] forbidden speech? [In respect to] this, our Sages of Blessed Memory have said, [as follows]: “What is the trade of a person in this world? He should act like [one who is] a mute. Meaning, he should constantly remember [the following]: “For, due to the many sins that I transgressed with my tongue up to this point, it would have been fitting had I been made a mute, however, [HaShem’s] kindness has strengthened itself over me, [and allowed me to retain my power of speech. Therefore], how can I return to continue to sin with this [same faculty of speech that HaShem has allowed me to retain]?
The same is precisely the case in our matter: The Creator, Yisbarach, made [people] worthy, and provided [people] with an additional soul above all animals, [that being] the speaking soul. [HaShem provided the speaking soul to people], in order, that with [the power of speech that one employs] in [his] Torah [learning] and in [the performance of] mitzvos, he is capable of meriting [life in] the eternal world. When a person transgresses with his tongue, [by] speaking that which is forbidden on many hundreds of occasions, it is fitting that [HaShem] remove his [faculty of] speech because of this [forbidden speech], and not return his speaking soul in the morning! However, The Holy One, Blessed is He, in His great mercy, is slow to anger [against this person, for] perhaps he will repent from his sin. Does he pay HaShem back [for His kindness], by continuing to speak against His Will, with [words of] Lashon HaRa, and [words of] mockery, and the other [types of] forbidden speech? [In respect to] this, our Sages of Blessed Memory have said, [as follows]: “What is the trade of a person in this world? He should act like [one who is] a mute. Meaning, he should constantly remember [the following]: “For, due to the many sins that I transgressed with my tongue up to this point, it would have been fitting had I been made a mute, however, [HaShem’s] kindness has strengthened itself over me, [and allowed me to retain my power of speech. Therefore], how can I return to continue to sin with this [same faculty of speech that HaShem has allowed me to retain]?
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