23. It is written, “Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?” O how should one be careful in this world? This verse was perplexing to the friends, for this is how it should have been written, “Do not let your mouth cause your soul to sin,” as it is written, “And if a soul sins,” and we did not find a verse where it is written, “And should flesh sin.”
24. However, so is the rule: it is forbidden for a man to speak words of whoredom even with his wife because his organ will harden and he will come to other thoughts and will be threshing in his barn and sowing other wheat—mating with his wife and thinking of other women.
25. “Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin” is holy flesh, as it is written, “And My covenant shall be in your flesh,” namely the circumcision. And do not say indecent words or words of whoredom before the angel who walks to the right of man. Rather, let all your words be calm and sound, for it is a mistake, for which he must offer the mistake-offering.
26. “Why should God be angry on account of your voice?” It is because the fowl of the sky will lead your voice and place it before the Creator’s.
27. “And destroy the work of your hands,” meaning of the sin of the flesh. Because every person has a holy covenant, they who govern in Hell cannot let him in here, as long as he keeps the holy covenant. If he does not keep it, the covenant is removed from him and he is destroyed and sabotaged.
The word is called “the works of man.” It is written about it, “And destroy the work of your hands,” meaning that the holy covenant is removed from him. Afterward he is put in Hell and they have nothing on which to rely. Now, my son, be careful with your friend’s honor more than with your own body. He warned him by that that he should not offend the honor of another as he has hurt his own honor.