ירמיהו, פרק ט׳, פסוק ב׳

Speech has the power to build or destroy, and when a society loses its moral compass, language itself transforms into a tool for harm. Just as a person steps heavily on a bow to bend it and prepare it for battle [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ], people ready their words for an attack. The tongue stops serving as a way to connect and instead becomes a deadly weapon, launching lies and bitter words to hurt others from a distance [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. On an intellectual level, this destructive speech takes the form of false claims and fake proofs, designed specifically to defeat the truth in arguments [מלבי״ם].

This misuse of words deeply impacts the surrounding culture. The power and strength people exert are not used to bring about fair justice, promote honesty, or protect the weak from oppressors [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Instead of using their minds to establish genuine faith, they channel their abilities into making lies stronger [מלבי״ם].

The result is a constant downward path. The primary approach among commentators views this as a continuous cycle of moral decay, where people move from one sin or false belief to the next without ever stopping [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. Another perspective suggests this constant movement refers to an endless string of punishments, shifting from one enemy or natural disaster to another [רד״ק]. Ultimately, whether trapped in a cycle of their own sins or overwhelmed by a series of hardships, the outcome is identical. They become so completely consumed by their bad deeds or their troubles that they never take a single moment to reflect, change their ways, and truly know God [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, מלבי״ם].