1Love righteousness, ye that be judges of the earth: think of the Lord with a good (heart,) and in simplicity of heart seek him. 2For he will be found of them that tempt him not; and sheweth himself unto such as do not distrust him. 3For froward thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise. 4For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter: nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin. 5For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in. 6For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words: for God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue. 7For the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice. 8Therefore he that speaketh unrighteous things cannot be hidden: neither shall vengeance, when it punisheth, pass by him. 9For inquisition shall be made into the counsels of the ungodly: and the sound of his words shall come unto the Lord for the manifestation of his wicked deeds. 10For the ear of jealousy heareth all things: and the noise of murmurings is not hid. 11Therefore beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable; and refrain your tongue from backbiting: for there is no word so secret, that shall go for nought: and the mouth that belieth slayeth the soul. 12Seek not death in the error of your life: and pull not upon yourselves destruction with the works of your hands. 13For God made not death: neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living. 14For he created all things, that they might have their being: and the generations of the world were healthful; and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor the kingdom of death upon the earth: 15(for righteousness is immortal:) 16but ungodly men with their works and words called it to them: for when they thought to have it their friend, they consumed to nought, and made a covenant with it, because they are worthy to take part with it.

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Jewgenij A. Popow19th century

When sharing unverified negative information about a neighbor, one should refrain from careless speech. Those who are the initial conveyors of unfounded gossip bear greater guilt than those who propagate it later, as the latter are already engaging in judgment rather than merely dispersing information. If the original rumor had been contained by someone discerning, there would be no further harm caused to the neighbor. The rumor-monger may claim, “I am merely passing on what I’ve heard.” However, rather than hastily transmitting the hearsay, it would be wiser to revisit the source and inquire about the basis of the story; additionally, one should reflect and employ one's own judgment on whether the rumor truly pertains to the individual and circumstance in question. Sadly, it is not uncommon for such rumors to be implausible or even impossible. For instance, it might be suggested that an individual repelled an object, causing its destruction, while the signs of damage are evident on their own side, not the opposing side; or someone might be accused of wrongdoing in a specific location and time, even though they were not present there at all. The originator of the rumor may share it with just one person, perhaps under the guise of confidentiality and without any malicious intent, even while remaining uncertain about the validity of their claims. Yet, this individual, in turn, will also share it with someone else, again treating it as a secret, and thus the confidentiality is lost. Consequently, the rumor spreads far and wide. With each retelling, people add their perspectives or biases, thus escalating the neighbor's shame. What was once a minor fault is magnified into a major offense, and from what could be forgiven, it becomes something unforgiveable. The innocent party finds their reputation turned from nonexistence to a distorted form of existence. The calumny surrounding them becomes so bizarre and disgraceful that it shakes their very being, while the origin of the rumor remains elusive—each person traces it back to another. The innocent victim is left bewildered, unsure of whom to defend themselves against. Recognizing that others view them with suspicion is distressing; they feel an overwhelming sense of guilt for something they did not do. This state of affairs is both challenging and perilous, as it may incite the innocent to harbor resentment against all humanity. St. Basil the Great, after suffering many unjust accusations, nearly succumbed to a deep-seated bitterness against mankind. The first bearer of the false rumor may soon realize its complete inaccuracy, yet how can they amend their error? Is it feasible to restrain the turbulent wind? Ultimately, it may be revealed that they inadvertently slandered their neighbor, and that their speech has contributed to a chorus of falsehoods. Therefore, wise Christian, refrain from the duty of relaying unverified disparaging news about your neighbor, for it might soon prove to be untrue. Should you find yourself having made such a misstep, do everything possible to quell the spreading rumor and be willing to publicly acknowledge your error.

Wisdom 1

Antiochus of Palestine

John of Tobolsk

Ireneus (Orda)

Jewgenij A. Popow

Antiochus of Palestine