LEV455 At times, one who speaks or believes lashon hara also transgresses the positive commandment of בְּצֶ֖דֶק תִּשְׁפֹּ֥ט עֲמִיתֶֽךָ׃, “Judge your fellow favorably” (Vayikra 19:15). For instance, if one sees his friend do or say something that can either be interpreted in a favorable light and given the benefit of the doubt, or be interpreted negatively, then this Torah commandment obligates him to judge the other person favorably, even if that person is just an average Jew. (However, if the person is G-d-fearing, then one is required to give him the benefit of the doubt even if it seems more likely that he acted improperly.) One who interprets another person's words or actions unfavorably and then disparages him on that basis has transgressed this commandment, as has the listener who believed this unfavorable interpretation.