Midrasch zu Mischlej 14:23

[(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.⁴Gen. R. 89:2.

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.⁵Cf. Codex Vaticanus Ebr. 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.

Another interpretation (of Prov. 14:23): IN ALL TOIL THERE IS PROFIT. This was Joseph, who suffered in prison and had gain.⁶Gen. R. 89:2; Exod. R. 7:1. 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.

Abaye was sitting before Rabba; the latter noticed that Abaye was very cheerful. Rabba said to him: "Does not the master agree with the passage (Ps. 2, 11.) Rejoice with treembling?" To which he answered: "I have the Tephilin on." R. Jeremiah was sitting before R. Zeira; the latter seeing that the former was very cheerful, remarked to him, "It is written (Ps. 14, 23.) In all painful labor there is profit." "I have Tephilin on," R. Jeremiah answered.

And it was at the end of two years of days - "in all labour there is profit, but in speech there is only loss" (Mishlei 14:23). Rabbi Shimon bar Abba says, as the difference between one who drinks hot water and one who drinks cold. "But in speech there is only loss" - there was a bone gatherer in Tziporin, and some say it was Rabbi Shimon bar Abba. When he would see black bones, he'd say "these are from water-drinkers"; red bones, "these are of wine-drinkers"; white bones, "these are of hot water drinkers." Another take, "in every labour ['etzev; עֶצֶב, also meaning 'suffering'] there is profit" - everything which Yosef caused suffering to his master, caused him excess from it, since he married his daughter. "But in speech there is only loss" - since he said to the master of drinks, "remember me... and mention me [to Paroh]" (Bereishit 40:14). And he was there two further years, as it says, "And it was at the end..."