“The fear of the Lord is clean” (Ps. 19:10). There is no equivocation. A person who finds an occasion to sin (in a situation) where there is no cause to fear others or risk of being shamed and does not permit himself to sin because of fear of God, reflects the essence of reverence. And if he has done so many times, but once succumbed to his evil inclination and did sin, he does not forfeit his other merits. Let neither his hands nor heart weaken from continuing to do good.¹ But if he regrets and is sorry for his previous deeds he receives no reward for his troubles in subduing his evil inclination initially. Concerning this it is said, “But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity” (Ezek. 18:24) none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered.

footnotes: ¹ Shabbath 31b.