Midrasch zu Ijow 36:19

(Job 36, 19) Hast thou prepared thy prayer before thy trouble came? R. Elazar said: "Always shall a man anitcipate with prayer before trouble comes. For, if Abraham had not anticipated with prayer [while he was] between Beth-El and the city of Ai, not one of Israel would have remained alive [when the trouble happened in Joshua's time]." Resh Lakish said: "He who concentrates his energies for prayer down below will have no enemies up in heaven." R. Jochanan said: "One should always pray for mercy, that all should strengthen his power [of prayer] and that he should not have any enemies to accuse him in heaven."

Another explanation of And God Almighty give you mercy. Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: Will thy riches avail, that are without stint, or all the forces of thy strength? (Job 36:19). R. Eleazar said: Do not be so arrogant as to fail to pray at a time of well-being.

[Another interpretation] (of Gen. 43:14): AND MAY GOD ALMIGHTY GRANT YOU MERCY. Let our master instruct us: Where have they ordained that one says a blessing over the food? Where it is stated (in Deut. 8:10): THEN YOU SHALL EAT, BE FULL, AND BLESS. So much for after < the meal >. Where < is it ordained for > before the meal? R. Hiyya taught in the name of R. Aqiva:⁵⁸Ber. 35a. (according to Lev. 19:24:) < ALL ITS FRUIT SHALL BE > SET ASIDE FOR PRAISES TO THE LORD. < These words > teach that one needs a blessing before < a meal > and after it (since PRAISES is plural). The Holy One said: Just as I need to bring down rain, cause winds to blow, and bring down dews; so you need to bless me and be strictly observant in praying to me.⁵⁹Tanh., Gen. 10:10. Do not see yourself in the time of prosperity despising prayer.⁶⁰The parallel in Tanh. reads: “Do not be scornful in the time of prosperity so as not to pray.” Then, when trouble arrives, you would stand up and pray! No, my child, do not do this; but, before trouble comes, you should pray ahead of time, as stated (in Job 36:19): WILL YOUR CRY FOR HELP BE MAKE READY WHEN THERE IS NO TROUBLE, AND ALL YOUR POWERFUL FORCES?⁶¹Biblical translations generally emend the text. The present translation is required by the context of the midrash. So also in Sanh. 44b. You know that in the case of our father Jacob, when Benjamin was with him and he did not know what was going to happen to him, he began to pray ahead of time. It is so stated (in Gen. 43:14): AND MAY GOD ALMIGHTY GRANT YOU MERCY BEFORE THE MAN THAT HE MAY RELEASE TO YOU YOUR OTHER BROTHER AND BENJAMIN. And so the proverb says (in Ecclesiasticus 38:1): HONOR THE PHYSICIAN BEFORE YOU HAVE NEED OF HIM.⁶²The proverb is cited in Aramaic and probably circulated separately. The parallel account in the traditional Tanhuma, however, cites R. Eleazar (ben Pedat) as attributing the Aramaic saying to Ben Sira’s book, where it appears in 38:1. yTa‘an. 3:6 (66d) also gives the saying in Aramaic but simply attributes it to R. Laezar (= Eleazar ben Pedat). Exod. R. 21:7 and PR 25:2 attribute the saying to Eleazar (ben Pedat) but cite it in Hebrew. What is the meaning of (Job 36:19): ALONG WITH ALL YOUR POWERFUL FORCES? That < those who pray ahead of time > in this way have made POWERFUL FORCES.