249. Rabbi Yehuda was sitting before Rabbi Shimon and reading, it is written, "The voice of your watchmen is heard, they lift up the voice, together shall they sing" (Yeshayah 52:8). "The voice of your watchmen." Who are the watchmen? HE ANSWERS, Those who are waiting for the time when the Holy One, blessed be He, will have Mercy to build His house. "They lift up the voice." HE ASKS, It should have said, 'They will lift up the voice;' what is the meaning of, "They lift up the voice?" HE ANSWERS, Every person who weeps and raises his voice for the destruction of the House of the Holy One, blessed be He, will merit what is written afterwards, "Together shall they sing," and merit to see it restored in joy.
249. ר' יְהוּדָה הֲוָה יָתִיב קָמֵיהּ דְּר' שִׁמְעוֹן, וְהוּא קָארֵי, כְּתִיב קוֹל צוֹפַיִךְ נָשְׂאוּ קוֹל יַחְדָּיו יְרַנֵּנוּ. קוֹל צוֹפַיִךְ, מַאן אִינּוּן צוֹפַיִךְ. אֶלָּא אִלֵּין אִינּוּן דִּמְצָפָאן, אֵימָתַי יְרַחֵם קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לְמִבְנֵי בֵּיתֵיהּ. נָשְׂאוּ קוֹל, יִשְּׂאוּ קוֹל מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַאי נָשְׂאוּ קוֹל. אֶלָּא, כָּל בַּר נָשׁ דְּבָכֵי, וְאָרִים קַלֵיהּ עַל חָרְבַּן בֵּיתֵיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, זָכֵי לְמָה דִּכְתִּיב לְבָתַר יַחְדָּיו יְרַנֵּנוּ. וְזָכֵי לְמֵחֱמֵי לֵיהּ בְּיִשּׁוּבָא בְּחֶדְוָותָא.