"I will guard my mouth with a barrier. And is there a barrier for the mouth? They said yes. (Proverbs 15:4) "A healing tongue is a tree of life." This is referring to the Torah, as it says (Proverbs 3:18) "It is a tree of life to those who grasp it." From here we learn that the Holy One, blessed be He, gave the Torah to Israel only so that they would not be involved in slander and idle talk. Similarly, David said, "Who wants to buy the World to Come?" They said to him, "Who can buy it?" He said to them, "For cheap, as it says (Psalms 34:13-14) 'Who is the man who desires life... Keep your tongue from evil...' " And what is "Let not my mouth speak falsehood" (Psalms 141:3)? From what is one refrained? (Psalms 34:14) "Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."