DEUT17 Flattery is divided into nine categories. The first category consists of the flatterer who recognizes his fellow man as wicked and deceitful, as spreading evil reports about the innocent, and as stealing from others, and who, nevertheless, comes and flatters him – – not flattering and praising him, but smoothing over his tongue for him, saying: "You committed no wrong in what you did." In this there are several transgressions and many punishments. First, he should have rebuked him for his sins. Not only does he not rebuke him, but he tells him, "You have not sinned," thus strengthening the hand of the evildoer. This flatterer further incurs punishment for not having been zealous on behalf of the truth and for abetting falsehood. And he is punished, in addition, for placing a stumbling block before the sinner, who, when being told that he has not sinned, does not repent of his evil and sins even more. Aside from the punishment he incurs because of the injury and affliction suffered by those the sinner has wronged, he will not reimburse or placate them because of his flattery. And he justifies a wicked man, about which it is written (Mishlei 17:15): "He who justifies the wicked and condemns the righteous--both of them are the abomination of Hashem." This applies all the more when the wrong of the sinner is known to others, and this one flatters him in public, telling him "You are pure and upright." He thereby desecrates the Blessed One's name and demeans law and judgment. A man must expose himself to danger rather than fall into this sin. Our Sages of blessed memory have told us (Sotah 41a-b) that once Agrippas [the King] was reading the Torah, and when he reached the verse (Devarim 17:15): "You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother," his eyes streamed tears [since he was a descendent of slaves], at which those who were with him said "Do not fear, Agrippas, you are our brother." At that moment the Jews brought down upon themselves the sentence of destruction, because they flattered Agrippas. Also one who sits in judgment must not fear any man, as it is written [this verse]. And flattery in this area increases punishment both for falsehood and flattery.