## Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Miketz

###### Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Miketz 2:1
[Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Miketz 2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma%20Buber/s/Miketz/r/2:1)

[ויהי מקץ שנתים ימים]. זש"ה לכל עצב יהיה מותר (משלי יד כג), אמרו רבותינו אפילו צונן שיעשו אותן חמין הנייה הן לגוף, בכל עצב יהיה מותר.

**Midrash Tanhuma, S. Buber Recension; trans. by John T. Townsend, 1989.:**
[(Gen. 41:1:) NOW IT CAME TO PASS AT THE END OF TWO FULL YEARS.] This text is related (to Prov. 14:23): IN ALL TOIL THERE IS PROFIT. Our masters have said: Even in the case of cold water, when they make it hot, it becomes a benefit to the body. IN ALL TOIL THERE IS PROFIT.⁴

footnotes:
⁴ Gen. R. 89:2.


###### Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Miketz 2:2
[Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Miketz 2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma%20Buber/s/Miketz/r/2:2)

ד"א בכל עצב יהיה מותר מן חבירו בתורה יהא מותר ויתרון יש לו, ודבר שפתים אך למחסור (שם) מה שהוא חושך את שפתיו שלא יגע בתורה אך למחסור. מעשה בתלמיד אחד שהיה וותיק, ור' אלעזר בן יעקב שמו היה רגיל בתלמודו, ראה מה היה רגיל בתלמודו, עד שהוא מזיע במרחץ היה עומד על עמדו ועובר על תלמודו, בשביל שלא היה יודע בשפתיו חלה ושכח תלמודו, מי גרם לו על ידי שלא היה יודע בשפתיו, לכך נאמר ודבר שפתים אך למחסור.

**Midrash Tanhuma, S. Buber Recension; trans. by John T. Townsend, 1989.:**
Another interpretation (of Prov. 14:23): IN ALL TOIL THERE IS PROFIT. The verse speaks about labors over Torah. Anyone who troubles himself more than his colleague over the Torah shall have benefit and gain. (Ibid., cont.:) BUT TALK FROM THE LIPS LEADS ONLY TO A LOSS. Anything restraining one's lips so that he does not labor in the Torah LEADS ONLY TO A LOSS. Once upon a time there was a certain student who was outstanding, and his name was R. Eleazar ben Jacob.⁵. 34, according to which R. Eleazar ben Jacob was not the student, but the master. He was regularly at his studies. Look at how regular in his studies he was. But while he was sweating in the bathhouse, he would stand at his chamber pot and skip his studies. Because he did not grasp them with his lips, he became sick and forgot his studies. What caused this for him? It was because he did not grasp his studies with his lips. It is therefore stated (in Prov. 14:23): BUT TALK FROM THE LIPS LEADS ONLY TO A LOSS.

footnotes:
⁵ Cf. Codex Vaticanus Ebr


###### Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Miketz 2:3
[Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Miketz 2:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma%20Buber/s/Miketz/r/2:3)

ד"א בכל עצב יהיה מותר, זה היה יוסף שנצטער בבית האסורים, והיה לו יתרון, ויוסף הוא השליט, ודבר שפתים אך למחסור, על ידי שדבר בשפתותיו ואמר כי אם זכרתני אתך, א"ל הקב"ה חייך הואיל שדברת בשפתותיך דברים שלא כראוי, חייך שאתה עושה עוד בבית האסורים שתי שנים, שנאמר ויהי מקץ שנתים ימים.

**Midrash Tanhuma, S. Buber Recension; trans. by John T. Townsend, 1989.:**
Another interpretation (of Prov. 14:23): IN ALL TOIL THERE IS PROFIT. This was Joseph, who suffered in prison and had gain.⁶ NOW (according to Gen. 42:6) JOSEPH WAS THE GOVERNOR. (Prov. 14:23:) BUT TALK FROM THE LIPS LEADS ONLY TO A LOSS. Because he had spoken merely with his lips and said to a cupbearer rather than to God (in Gen. 40:14): BUT KEEP ME IN YOUR REMEMBRANCE, the Holy One said to him: By your life, inasmuch as you spoke improper words with your lips; by your life, you are doing two years more in the prison. Thus it is stated (in Genesis 41:1): NOW IT CAME TO PASS AT THE END OF TWO FULL YEARS.

footnotes:
⁶ Gen. R. 89:2; Exod. R. 7:1.