Midrasch zu Tehillim 120:3

Another interpretation (of Prov. 18:21): DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE. Slander is so harmful that one does not produce it from his mouth without denying the root (i.e., the existence of the Holy One).¹⁴Tanh., 5:3; M. Ps. 52:2. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 12:5 [4]): THOSE WHO SAY: BY OUR TONGUES WE SHALL PREVAIL. OUR LIPS ARE WITH US. WHO IS TO BE OUR LORD? The Holy One, as it were, cried out against those who speak slander (in Ps. 94:16): WHO WILL STAND FOR ME AGAINST EVILDOERS…? Who can stand against them? And who will stand against them? Gehinnom? But Gehinnom also cries out: I am unable to stand against them. < Then > the Holy One said: I < will come at them > from above and you (Gehinnom), from below. I will hurl darts from above; and you will turn on them with burning coals from below. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 120:3–4): < WHAT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU, AND WHAT SHALL BE YOUR GAIN, YOU DECEITFUL TONGUE? > SHARP DARTS OF THE WARRIOR ALONG WITH BURNING COALS OF BROOM WOOD. The Holy One said to them (i.e., to Israel): Do you want to be delivered from Gehinnom? Keep yourselves far away from the deceitful tongue. Then you will be acquitted in this world and in the world to come. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 34:13 [12]): WHO IS THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE AND LOVES < MANY > DAYS < IN WHICH > TO EXPERIENCE < WHAT IS > GOOD. WHO DESIRES LIFE, concerns this world; LOVES < MANY > DAYS, refers to the world to come. It is therefore stated (in vs. 14 [13]): KEEP YOUR TONGUE FROM EVIL < AND YOUR LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT >. Our masters have said: There is a story about a certain peddler who went around in the villages.¹⁵Lev. R. 16:2; cf. also ‘AZ 19b. Now he would call out and say: Who wants the elixir of life? The daughter of R. Jannay heard him. She said to her father: A certain peddler is going around and saying: Who wants the elixir of life? He said to her: Go and call him. She went and called him to R. Jannay. He said to him: Which elixir of life is it that you are selling? That peddler said to him: Pray, do not you know what this elixir is? He said to him: Even so, you inform me. He said to him: Bring me the book of Psalms. He brought it to him, and he unrolled it. Then he showed him what David had said (in Ps. 34:13–14 [12–13]): WHO IS THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE…? KEEP YOUR TONGUE FROM EVIL…. What did R. Jannay do? He gave him six sela'im. His disciples said to him: Rabbi, did you not know this verse? He said to them: Yes, but this one came and explained it to me. {Therefore leprosy comes upon whoever speaks slander. (Lev. 14:2:) THIS SHALL BE THE LAW OF THE LEPER.} < This story is > to teach you that one who speaks slander will have plagues come upon him. Thus it is stated (in Lev. 14:2): THIS SHALL BE THE LAW OF THE LEPER (metsora'), < i.e. > the one who proclaims evil (motsi' ra').¹⁶Above, 5:1; ySot. 2:1 (17d); ‘Arakh. 15b; Cf. Lev. R. 16:1.