Daf 189a (דַּף קפ״ט ע״א)

For at the time when night enters, (דְּהָא בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּעָאל לֵילְיָא) then three camps separate, arrayed for the three directions of the world, (כְּדֵין אִתְפַּרְשָׁן תְּלַת סִטְרִין מַשִּׁרְיָין לִתְלַת סִטְרֵי עַלְמָא) and in every direction are a thousand thousands and ten thousand myriads, (וּבְכָל סִטְרָא וְסִטְרָא אֶלֶף אַלְפִין וְרִבּוֹא רִבְבָן) and all are appointed over song. (וְכֻלְּהוּ מְמַנָּן עַל שִׁירָתָא). These are the three camps, (תְּלַת מַשִּׁרְיָין אִינוּן) and one holy Chayot is appointed over them and stands above them, (וְחַד חֵיוָתָא קַדִּישָׁא מְמַנָּא עֲלַיְיהוּ וְקָיְימָא עֲלַיְיהוּ) and all of them praise Kudsha Berikh Hu (וְכֻלְּהוּ קָא מְשַׁבְּחִין לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא) until the morning arrives. (עַד דְּאָתֵי צַפְרָא) When the morning comes, (כַּד אָתֵי צַפְרָא) all those from the side of the south and all the stars of radiance, (כָּל אִינוּן דְּבִסְטַר דָּרוֹם וְכָל כּוֹכְבַיָּא דְּנָהֲרֵי) all of them praise and sing to Kudsha Berikh Hu, (כֻּלְּהוּ מְשַׁבְּחִין וְאָמְרֵי שִׁירָתָא לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא) as it is said (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר): (Job 38) When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy. (בְּרָן יַחַד כּוֹכְבֵי בֹקֶר וַיָּרִיעוּ כָּל בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים). When the morning stars sang together-these are the stars from the side of the south, (בְּרָן יַחַד כּוֹכְבֵי בֹקֶר, אִלֵּין כּוֹכְבַיָּא דְּבִסְטַר דָּרוֹם) as it is said: (Bereishit 19) And Avraham rose early in the morning. (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר: וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר). And all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy-these are those from the side of the left who were included in the right. (וַיָּרִיעוּ כָּל בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים, אִלֵּין אִינוּן דְּבִסְטַר שְׂמָאלָא דְּאִתְכְּלִילוּ בִּימִינָא). And then morning shines, (וּכְדֵין צַפְרָא נָהִיר) and Yisrael take up the song and praise Kudsha Berikh Hu by day, (וְיִשְׂרָאֵל נָטְלֵי שִׁירָתָא וּמְשַׁבְּחָן לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּימָמָא) three times by day (תְּלַת זִמְנִין בִּימָמָא) corresponding to the three times by night. (לָקֳבֵל תְּלַת זִמְנִין דְּלֵילְיָא). And these stand opposite those, (וְקָיְימִין אִלֵּין לָקֳבֵיל אִלֵּין) until the glory of Kudsha Berikh Hu is elevated (עַד דְּיִסְתַּלַּק יְקָרָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא) by day and by night properly. (בִּימָמָא וּבְלֵילְיָא כְּדְקָא יְאוּת) And Kudsha Berikh Hu is elevated in them by these six. (וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִסְתַּלַּק בְּהוּ בְּשִׁית אִלֵּין).

That holy Chayot which stands above them (הַהוּא חֵיוָתָא קַדִּישָׁא דְּקָיְימָא עֲלַיְיהוּ) stands above Yisrael below (לְעֵילָא קָיְימָא עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל לְתַתָּא) in order to rectify all properly. (בְּגִין לְאַתְקָנָא כֹּלָּא כְּדְקָא יְאוּת). What is written of her? (מַה כְּתִיב בָּהּ) (Mishlei 31): And she rises while it is still night, and gives prey to her household and a portion to her maidens. (וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ וְחֹק לְנַעֲרוֹתֶיהָ). And gives prey to her household-these are the upper camps, (וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ אִלֵּין אִינוּן מַשִּׁרְיָין דִּלְעֵילָא) and a portion to her maidens-these are the camps of Yisrael below. (וְחֹק לְנַעֲרוֹתֶיהָ אִלֵּין מַשִּׁרְיָין דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לְתַתָּא) And because of this, the glory of Kudsha Berikh Hu ascends from all sides, from above and below. (וּבְגִין כָּךְ יְקָרָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִסְתַּלַּק מִכָּל סִטְרִין מֵעֵילָא וּמִתַּתָּא). And regarding this, all is (Some say: he is) established in His dominion. (וְעַל דָּא כֹּלָּא הֲוָה – נ״א: הוּא – בִּרְשׁוּתֵיהּ קַיְימָא) And all is by His will. (וְכֹּלָּא אִיהוּ בִּרְעוּתֵיהּ). (Job 9): He commands the sun and it does not shine. (הָאוֹמֵר לַחֶרֶס וְלֹא יִזְרָח).

Rabbi Shimon said: This refers to Yosef. (רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אָמַר: דָּא יוֹסֵף). And seals over the stars-these are his brothers, (וּבְעַד כּוֹכָבִים יַחְתֹּם, אִלֵּין אִינוּן אֲחוֹי) as it is written of them: And behold, eleven stars were bowing to me. (דִּכְתִיב בְּהוּ: וְאַחַד עָשָׂר כּוֹכָבִים מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לִי) (Bereishit 37) Another matter: He commands the sun-this is Ya'akov, (דָּבָר אַחֵר: הָאוֹמֵר לַחֶרֶס, דָּא יַעֲקֹב) at the time they said to him: Recognize now. (בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּאָמְרוּ לוֹ: הַכֶּר נָא) (Bereishit 37) And it does not shine-at the time the Shekhinta departed from him. (וְלֹא יִזְרָח, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּאִסְתַּלְּקַת שְׁכִינְתָא מִנֵּיהּ). And seals over the stars-because his sons were sealed, and his light was extinguished, (וּבְעַד כּוֹכָבִים יַחְתֹּם, בְּגִין בְּנוֹי אִתְחַתַּם וְאַסְתִּים נְהוֹרָא דִילֵיהּ) his sun darkened and his stars gave no light, (שִׁמְשָׁא אִתְחַשַּׁךְ וְכוֹכְבַיָּא לָא נְהִירוּ) because Yosef was separated from his father. (בְּגִין דְּיוֹסֵף אִתְפָּרַשׁ מֵאֲבוֹי). And Come and see: from that day of Yosef’s episode, (וְתָא חֲזֵי, מֵהַהוּא יוֹמָא דְּהַהוּא עוֹבָדָא דְּיוֹסֵף) Ya'akov separated from marital union, (אִתְפְּרַשׁ יַעֲקֹב מִשִּׁמּוּשָׁא דְּעַרְסָא) and remained in mourning until the day that the news of Yosef came. (וְאִשְׁתָּאַר אֲבֵלָא עַד הַהוּא יוֹמָא דְּאִתְבַּשַּׂר בְּשׂוֹרָה דְּיוֹסֵף). And Hashem was with Yosef, and he was a successful man, and he was in the house of his master… (וַיְהִי יי אֶת יוֹסֵף וַיְהִי אִישׁ מַצְלִיחַ וַיְהִי בְּבֵית אֲדוֹנָיו וְגו׳) (Bereishit 39)

Rabbi Yosi opened: (רִבִּי יוֹסֵי פָּתַח) (Tehillim 37) For Hashem loves justice and does not abandon His pious one; they are preserved forever. (כִּי יי אֹהֵב מִשְׁפָּט וְלֹא יַעֲזֹב אֶת חֲסִידָיו לְעוֹלָם נִשְׁמָרוּ). This verse was established regarding Avraham: (הַאי קְרָא אוּקְמוּהָ בְּאַבְרָהָם) His pious one-it is written ḥasido, singular. (אֶת חֲסִידָיו, חֲסִידוֹ כְּתִיב) And indeed, it has been said. (וְהָא אִתְּמָר).

Come and see: (תָּא חֲזֵי) in every place where the Righteous go, (בְּכָל אֲתַר דְּצַדִּיקַיָּא אָזְלֵי) Kudsha Berikh Hu guards them and does not abandon them. (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא נָטִיר לוֹן וְלָא שָׁבִיק לוֹן). David said: (דָּוִד אָמַר:) (Tehillim 23) Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff… (גַּם כִּי אֵלֵךְ בְּגֵיא צַלְמָוֶת לֹא אִירָא רָע כִּי אַתָּה עִמָּדִי שִׁבְטְךָ וּמִשְׁעַנְתֶּךָ וְגו׳). In every place the Righteous go, (בְּכָל אֲתַר דְּצַדִּיקַיָּא אָזְלֵי) the Shekhinta goes with them and does not leave them. (שְׁכִינְתָא אָזְלָא עִמְּהוֹן וְלָא שָׁבִיק לוֹן). Yosef went into the valley of the shadow of death, (יוֹסֵף אָזַל בְּגֵיא צַלְמָוֶת) and they brought him down to Egypt, (וְנָחֲתוּ לֵיהּ לְמִצְרַיִם) and the Shekhinta was with him. (שְׁכִינְתָא הֲוַת עִמֵּיהּ). This is what is written: And Hashem was with Yosef. (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: וַיְהִי יי אֶת יוֹסֵף) (Bereishit 39) And because the Shekhinta was with him, (וּבְגִין דְּהֲוַת עִמֵּיהּ שְׁכִינְתָּא) whatever he did, he succeeded in his hand. (בְּכָל מַה דְּהֲוָה עָבִיד הֲוָה מַצְלַח בִּידֵיהּ). For even whatever was in his hands, and his master required it of him in a different manner, (דְּאֲפִילּוּ מַה דְּהֲוָה בִּידֵיהּ וְהֲוָה תָּבַע לֵיהּ מָארֵיהּ בְּגַוְנָא אָחֳרָא) it would transform in his hands to that very manner which was the will of his master. (הֲוָה מִתְהַפֵּךְ בִּידֵיהּ לְהַהוּא גַוְנָא דִּרְעוּתָא דְּמָארֵיהּ הֲוָה רָעֵי בֵיהּ). As it is said: And his master saw that Hashem was with him, and whatever he did Hashem made succeed in his hand. (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר: וַיַּרְא אֲדוֹנָיו כִּי יי אִתּוֹ וְכָל אֲשֶׁר הוּא עוֹשֶׂה יי מַצְלִיחַ בְּיָדוֹ) Succeed in his hand-indeed, because Hashem was with him. (מַצְלִיחַ בְּיָדוֹ וַדַּאי, כִּי יי אִתּוֹ).

Come and see: it is not written his master knew, but his master saw, (תָּא חֲזֵי, וַיֵּדַע אֲדוֹנָיו כִּי יי אִתּוֹ לָא כְּתִיב, אֶלָּא וַיַּרְא אֲדוֹנָיו) for with his own eyes he saw miraculous works every day that Kudsha Berikh Hu performed through his hand. (דְּהָא בְּעֵינָוֹי הֲוָה חָמֵי עוֹבָדָא דְּנִסִּין בְּכָל יוֹמָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבִיד בִּידֵיהּ) And therefore: Hashem blessed the house of the Egyptian because of Yosef. (וְעַל דָּא: וַיְבָרֶךְ יי אֶת בֵּית הַמִּצְרִי בִּגְלַל יוֹסֵף). Kudsha Berikh Hu guards the Righteous, (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא נָטִיר לוֹן לְצַדִּיקַיָּא) and because of them He guards the wicked, (וּבְגִינֵהוֹן נָטַר לוֹן לְרַשִּׁיעַיָּא) for the wicked are blessed because of the Righteous. (דְּהָא רַשִּׁיעַיָּא מִתְבָּרְכִין בְּגִינֵהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּא). As in this case, it is written (כְּגַוְונָא דָא כְּתִיב): (Shemuel II 6) And Hashem blessed the house of Oved-Edom the Gittite for the sake of the Ark of Elohim. (וַיְבָרֶךְ יי אֶת בֵּית עוֹבֵד אֱדוֹם הַגִּתִּי בַּעֲבוּר אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים). The Righteous-others are blessed through them, (צַדִּיקַיָּא, אֲחֳרָנִין מִתְבָּרְכִין בְּגִינַיְיהוּ) but they cannot be saved (Some say: rescued) through their merit. (וְאִינוּן לָא יָכְלוּ לְאִתְּזְנָא (נ״א: לְאִשְׁתַּזְּבָא) בִּזְכוּתַיְיהוּ) And this has already been established. (וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ). Yosef’s master was blessed because of him, (יוֹסֵף אִתְבָּרֵךְ מָארֵיהּ בְּגִינֵיהּ) but he could not be saved by his merit nor freed. (וְאִיהוּ לָא יָכִיל לְאִשְׁתְּזָבָא בִּזְכוּתֵיהּ מִנֵּיהּ וּלְנָפְקָא לְחֵירוּ).