13. One who speaks lashon hara and adds to this even one lie or exaggeration, has violated the commandment, Distance yourself from falsehood. He is guilty of motzi shem ra (slander), whose punishment is more severe than that of lashon hara.

14. One who speaks or accepts lashon hara, violates the commandment, And you shall walk in His ways, this is a commandment to emulate the ways of God, which are all good and just. By speaking or listening to negative talk about a fellow Jew, one has distanced himself from the ways of God.