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Tehillim Tools: Psalms 141:4



“Let my heart not turn to anything evil, to occupy itself in deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity, and let me not partake of food in their feasts of pleasure (Psalms 141:4).”

 

“Let my heart not turn to anything evil,” because to a person whose heart is turned to evil perceives the evil in all other people, “to occupy itself in deeds of wickedness with men.”  He becomes more guilty for his damage to the unity of Israel. However, one whose heart is turned to good tends to see the good in others and sees their merit. King David was praying that God should protect him from allowing his heart to turn to evil so that he would be free to turn his heart to good and see others as good. (Toledot Yaakov Yosef, Chukat 2)

We can generally have a good idea of where our heart is by the way we look at others: When we find ourselves focusing on the negative, always perceiving people as guilty; we know that our hearts have been infected with negativity. King David prays for God’s help in avoiding the negative. He doesn’t ask for help in seeing the good! Once God protects him from the infection of negativity, he can, himself, focus on the positive.

This is an excellent verse to use as part of a strategic plan to avoid speaking Lishon Harah.

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