204. "And Hashem was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian" (Beresheet 39:2). Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion with the verse, "For Hashem loves justice, and forsakes not His pious ones; they are preserved forever" (Tehilim 37:28). It has been explained that this refers to Abraham, because "His pious ones" is spelled 'pious one' IN THE SINGULAR, as has already been explained.
205. Come and behold, wherever the Righteous go, the Holy One, blessed be He, protects them and never abandons them. As David said, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff" (Tehilim 23:4). For wherever the righteous go, the Shechinah never leaves them.
206. When Joseph walked the valley of the shadow of death and was brought down to Egypt, the Shechinah was with him, as it is written, "And Hashem was with Joseph" (Beresheet 39:2). Because the Shechinah was with him, whatever he did in his hand prospered. If he had something in his hand, but his master asked for something else, what was in his hand would turn into that which his master wanted, as it is written, "And his master saw that Hashem was with him, and that Hashem made all that he did prosper in his hand" (Ibid. 3). Assuredly, it "did prosper in his hand," for Hashem was with him.
207. Come and behold, it is not written, 'And his master knew that Hashem was with him,' but rather "And his master saw." THIS TEACHES US THAT he saw with his own eyes the miracles that the Holy One, blessed be He, performed by His hand. Therefore, "Hashem blessed the Egyptian house for Joseph's sake" (Beresheet 39:5). The Holy One, blessed be He, preserves the righteous. For their sakes, He also protects the wicked as they are blessed for the sake of the righteous. This is said in the verse, "Hashem has blessed the house of Oved Edom...because of the ark of Elohim" (II Shmuel 6:12).
208. Other people are blessed for the sake of the righteous, but they themselves cannot be saved by their own merits. This has been explained, Joseph's master has been blessed for his sake, yet Joseph could not be saved by his merits and gain his freedom.
209. He was later put in prison, as it is written, "Whose foot they hurt with fetters; he was laid in iron" (Tehilim 105:18). Subsequently, the Holy One, blessed be He, set him free and made him ruler over Egypt. Thus, it is written, "For Hashem loves justice and forsakes not His pious ones; they are preserved forever" (Tehilim 37:28). 'Pious' is spelled to read 'pious one' has already been explained, and the Holy One, blessed be He, protects the righteous in this world and in the World to Come, as it is written, "But let all those that put their trust in You rejoice, let them ever shout for joy, because You do defend them; and let those who love Your name be joyful in You" (Tehilim 5:12).