HESED: YESHIVAT HAVERIM – BABYLONIAN TALMUD p56

For the sin of bloodshed the sanctuary is laid waste and Shekhina departs from
Israel, as it is written [Numbers, xxxv. 34]: “And ye shall not render unclean the land which ye
inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I, the Lord, dwell in the midst of the children of
Israel”; which signifies that if ye render it unclean, the Shekhina will depart from the land. For
the sins of adultery, idolatry, and disregard of (the laws of) the Sabbatic and jubilee years exile
comes, and (other nations) take up the place (of the exiles), as it is written [Lev. xviii. and
xxvii.]. For the sin of defiling the mouth (speaking indecent things), great oppressions and evil
decrees are (constantly) renewed, young men die, orphans and widows cry (for help), but are not
answered, as it is written [Isaiah, ix., end of verse 16]: “For all this his anger is not turned away
and his hand still remaineth stretched out,” which is explained by R. Hanan b. Ahba as follows:
“All know for what purpose a bride marries; still, he who defiles his mouth (by speaking of its
details), even if a happy life of seventy years is decreed for him, the decree is turned aside.”
Rabba b. Shila in the name of R. Hisda says: Gehenna is made deep for him who defiles his
mouth, as it is written [Proverbs, xxii. 14]. R. Na’hman b. Isaac says: It is made deep even for
the one who listens to (indecent talk) and does not protest against it [ibid. 15]. R. Oshia says: He
who abuses himself (by masturbation) becomes afflicted with wounds and boils; not only this,
but he is punished with dropsy. 1 R. Na’hman b. Itz’hak says dropsy is an evidence of sin.
Samuel the Little took sick with it, and he said: “Lord of the Universe! Who will prove (that I
am not guilty, of immoral conduct)?” Hereupon he got well again. Abayi took sick with it. Said
Rabha: “I know that the Nahmanite (son of Na’hman) starves himself.”
The rabbis taught: There are four evidences: an evidence of sin is dropsy; an evidence of hate
without cause is jaundice; an evidence of pride is poverty; an evidence of calumny (spreading
evil reports about others) is croup. The sickness of croup becomes epidemic for (the sin of
neglecting to give) tithes; but R. Elazar b. Jose said, only for the sin of calumny.