Halakhah sobre Isaías 5:18

And when we delve more deeply into this matter, we find that in addition to its being a grave transgression in itself, it undermines all the [upper] worlds and darkens and lessens their light. For it is the habit of many men to redouble [violation of] this negative commandment many hundreds and thousands of times in the course of their lives. For even a small sin, when it is repeated many times, becomes like [thick] cart-ropes, as Isaiah exhorted (Isaiah 5:18): "Woe unto those who draw forth iniquity with cords of deceit and [who draw forth] sin as [thick as] cart-ropes." This is analogous to the instance of a silken strand which is redoubled hundreds of times. How much more so is this sin [of lashon hara], which is extremely grave in itself and which countless men tend to repeat many thousands of times in the course of their lives without taking it upon themselves to guard themselves against it — how much more so is the [corresponding] undermining [of the worlds] above without limit!

From the laws of the commandment is that which they, may their memory be blessed, said (Sanhedrin 57a) that it is forbidden from Torah writ to rob even the smallest amount. But the negative commandment of "you shall not rob" only applies to the value of a small coin (perutah), since the Torah only makes liable [here] for something that is money; and less than the value of a small coin is not called money. But nonetheless, it is forbidden from Torah writ - like half a measure, for which we do not administer lashes, but it is [still] a Torah prohibition. And Rambam, may his memory be blessed, wrote (Mishneh Torah, Robbery and Lost Property 1:2), "It is forbidden to rob or oppress even a gentile and an idolater. And if he robbed him or oppressed him, he must return [it]." And in the Gemara (Bava Kamma 119a), they, may their memory be blessed, said that it is even forbidden to destroy the money of, and to rob and steal from, people that it is permitted to destroy their persons, such as the heretics. And they said as the reason for this, lest proper seed will come from them and their money would go to them. And it is also possible to say that their, may their memory be blessed, intention in the distancing of this was so that a man not accustom his nature to this, as habituation to lowly and bad traits would be lack in the soul. And it is a strong 'rope to drag iniquity.'