EXOD762 The class of those who speak lashon hara is divided into six categories. The first category--one who ascribes a fault to another when he has no such fault; sometimes he may [even] ascribe a negative trait in place of the beautiful one [that he really has]. This person's heart has gathered for him [Tehillim 41:7] the attributes of two evil classes: the class of liars and the class of those who speak lashon hara. We have been admonished by the Torah not to accept lashon hara [i.e., one who hears lashon hara may not believe that it is true], lest it be false and a lie, as the pasuk says [this verse], "Do not bear a false report." [See paragraph 42]. Shlomo, a"h, said (Mishlei 17:4), "An evil person pays attention to iniquitous speech; a liar listens to destructive talk." This means that there are two classes of people who accept lashon hara: one--a wicked, malicious person (the same language as [Yeshayahu 9:16], "For they are all flatterers and wicked") [This verse is brought as proof that the word me'ra in Mishlei 17:4 means an evil person, just as it does here in Yeshayahu 9:16], who suspects innocent people and enjoys finding fault, guilt, and dishonor in his fellow man. [Thus,] when he hears a person's friends relating lashon hara about him [Iyov 36:33; see Ralbag], the malice in his heart incites him to believe the truth of these things. The second class--a liar; he too listens and believes the destructive talk. Since he does not distance [himself] from falsehood [Exodus 23:7], he has no problem accepting lies and bearing false reports. Consequently, he is quick to accept lashon hara. "A liar listens"--this means a person of falsehood [The verse literal (sic) translates as "falsehood listens." Rabbeinu Yonah explains that it means a person of falsehood, i.e., a liar] similar to (Yirmeyahu 9:5), "Your lodging is in the midst of deceit," i.e., amidst people of deceit; and (Tehillim 109:4), "But I am prayer," i.e. a man of prayer.