משלי, פרק כ״ו, פסוק כ״ח

False speech and flattery create a tangled psychological web of hatred and ruin between people. The dynamics born from lies do not just twist reality; they breed deep resentment and cause severe social and spiritual harm. The primary approach among commentators is that a liar actually hates the very people he has crushed and ruined with his deceit. This hatred stems from a psychological assumption: the liar believes his victims must surely despise him in return for the pain he has caused them [רלב״ג, מצודת דוד, עמנואל הרומי]. However, others suggest the liar's hatred is aimed at those who try to correct him and suppress his behavior with their rebukes [עמנואל הרומי]. Alternatively, a person given to falsehood simply despises anything that is pure and clean [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Looking at the situation from a different angle, the danger of falsehood applies not only to the one speaking but also to the one willing to listen. Accepting slander causes a person in power to hate his subordinates and those under his control, much like King Saul believed false reports and ruthlessly pursued David [רש״י]. On a more metaphorical level, the actual trait of falsehood despises weak liars who only whisper their deceit in secret, preferring those who boldly lie in the open [מלבי״ם]. Ultimately, a deceitful person harbors a broad hatred, despising both those who try to suppress him and those who use smooth words to deflect him [אבן עזרא].

When it comes to the impact of a flattering, smooth-talking mouth, opinions are divided into two main directions. One perspective views flattery as a necessary tactical defense against a liar. When victims speak smoothly to their oppressor, acting as if they do not suspect his deceit, they manage to deflect his anger and remove his hatred [רלב״ג, מצודת דוד]. Similarly, gentle and smooth speech can be used to elegantly brush off a liar who is trying to start a fight, safely avoiding his wrath [אלשיך].

Conversely, the opposing view sees smooth speech as a highly destructive force. Flattery, empty promises, and the failure to offer honest correction create severe obstacles that push a person entirely off the right path in life [עמנואל הרומי, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This kind of smooth talk ultimately pushes the listener away from God [רש״י]. In the end, the flattering mouth acts as a dangerous trap, pulling the flatterer himself into complete ruin [מלבי״ם].