He who does not slander with his tongue, does no evil to his friend, and does not spread reproach against his neighbor.
An important part of holiness concerns the tongue and one’s attitude toward a neighbor. Slander is spreading harmful or false speech about another person. It can wound someone even without a physical blow. David ties together speech, deeds, and attitude: a righteous person does not slander, does not do evil, and does not spread words that humiliate his neighbor. The last point is especially important, because a person may not invent the lie himself, yet may pass it on thoughtlessly or with bad intent. The psalm shows that worshiping God is inseparable from honoring a neighbor’s dignity. The believer should think not only, “Is this information true?” but also, “Is passing it on appropriate, beneficial, and prompted by love?” Christian speech is not nourished by another person’s downfall. It seeks truth, righteousness, and, when possible, reconciliation. The ability to restrain the tongue is an important sign of spiritual maturity.