Yet another situation where chessed-kindness can be done with speech is to give good advice to one’s fellow in those matters that pertain to him. This type of chessed applies to wealthy people as well—to give them good advice.

Another chessed is when one sees that his friend is sad or worried due to financial strain or some other hardship, even if one cannot actually help resolve the hardship, it is nevertheless a mitzvah to speak to his heart and help relieve his worry. Even a poor person who does not have any money to do chessed with his possession can do this type of chessed with his words. Our Sages have said: “He who gives a small coin to a poor man obtains six blessings, but who sooths him with words of comfort obtains eleven blessings” (Bava Basra 9b).