A Song of Ascents. Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. Rav said: "From the day the Temple was destroyed, a decree was issued against the homes of the righteous to be destroyed, as it is said, 'In the ears of the Lord of hosts, if not many houses shall become desolate'" (Isaiah 5:9). Rabbi Yochanan said: "The Holy One, blessed be He, will restore them to their settlements, as it is said, 'A Song of Ascents.
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever'" (Psalm 125:1). Just as God will restore Mount Zion, so too He will restore the homes of the righteous. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous. Reish Lakish expounded: "A man is not matched with a woman except in accordance with his deeds, as it is said, 'For the rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous'" (Psalm 125:3).
Rabbi Yochanan said: "From what is said about Rebecca, 'Behold, she is a virgin' (Genesis 24:16), I do not know that no one knew her, but rather that even though a man did not marry her for her own sake, because the rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous," (Psalm 125:3). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: "He has no rest in the company of a group of righteous people, but in the company of a group of wicked people.
Why does the rod of the wicked not rest on the lot of the righteous? This refers to Potiphar's wife, who was wicked, and to the fate of Joseph, who was righteous." "The Lord is good to the good. Good will come and receive good from good for the good.
The good that will come is Moses, as it is said, "And she saw him, that he was good" (Exodus 2:2). The good from which this comes is the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is said, "The Lord is good to all" (Psalm 145:9). And the good that will receive is the Torah, as it is said, "For I give you good doctrine" (Proverbs 4:2). These good ones are the Israelites, as it is said, "The Lord is good to the good and to the upright in heart" (Psalm 125:4).
The Lord is good to the good, and anyone who engages in the study of the Torah can say, "and to the upright in heart." But those who cause trouble will be led away by the Lord. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said, "Anyone who speaks ill of the disciples of the wise will fall into Gehenna, as it is said, 'And the perverseness of their transgressions will lead them away' (Proverbs 5:22). Peace be upon Israel, even when the Lord leads away the workers of iniquity."
Rabbi Yishmael taught, "If you see a disciple of the wise committing a transgression at night, do not think badly of him during the day, for perhaps he has repented. Shouldn't it be obvious that he has repented?" Speak about the person's physical body, but in matters of money, how long should you wait for the lender to return?"