Midras Ayub 2:9: Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, Aggadat Bereshit, Midrash Tanchuma & Bereshit Rabbah

R. Akiva says: "You shall not do (i.e., deport yourselves) with Me" as others do with their gods. When good befalls them, they honor their gods, viz. (Habakkuk 1:16) "Therefore, he sacrifices to his "nets" (i.e., to his idols, which "net" him riches). And when evil befalls them, they curse their gods, viz. (Isaiah 8:21) "… and he will curse his king and his gods." But, as for you, if I bring good upon you, you give thanks, and when I bring afflictions upon you, you give thanks. And thus did David say (Psalms 116:3) "the cup of salvation shall I raise, and in the name of the L-td will I call" — (Ibid. 4) "Trouble and sorrow will I find, and in the name of the L–rd shall I call." And thus, Iyyov says (Iyyov 1:21) "the L–rd has given and the L–rd has taken — Let the name of the L–rd be blessed!" Both for the good and for the evil. What does his wife say to him? (Ibid. 2:9) "Do you still hold on to your innocence? Blaspheme G–d and die!" He answers (Ibid. 10) "You speak as one of the lowly ones!

[2] Different interpretation: "God's anger I will raise." There are those who were struck and kicked, and there are those who were struck and asked their father why this belt is hanging on them. And there are those who said to their father, "Why is this belt hanging on me?" There are those who were struck and kicked, and this is Job, for when Satan struck him, he began to cry out, "Remove your rod from me, and let not dread of you terrify me." (Job 9:34). And I speak and am not afraid, as it says (I will speak) [I will speak up] and not be afraid, etc. (Job 9:35). A parable about Isratyotus (Suldaat in Greek) who became a thief. "The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: I have examined this and that, and all of the diseases come from Egypt. Similarly, Job's friends said to him: You have lost your hope (lepīs in Greek), which means expectation and hope", You said (I will speak) and we did not fear; they said, "Is it possible that you are speaking and not afraid?" The first human being, formed in the image and likeness of the Almighty, was unable to withstand hearing His voice, as it is said, "And they heard the voice of the Lord God" (Genesis 3:8).But when my wife wants to say to me, "So bless/curse God and die," (Job 2:9) I said to her, "Speak like one of the foolish women," etc. (Job 2:10). Therefore, (I will speak) [I will speak up] and not be afraid, for I am not like myself, I am not like the man who said",(Job 9:35) "The woman You gave me," etc. (Genesis 3:12). They said to him, "But Abraham heard Your words and could not stand," as it says, "And he fell on his face," etc. (Genesis 17:3), and so did Balaam fall and his eyes were open (Numbers 24:4). Even we hear His words and fall and you speak against Him and are not afraid, we are not like you," he said to them, "My heart is like yours, and I do not fall from you," etc. (Job 12:3). This is a story about King Hezekiah who became sick and turned his face towards the wall, as it says "And Hezekiah turned his face towards the wall" (Isaiah 38:2). It is said "remember now" (Isaiah 38:3), and what does "remember now" mean? When Israel sinned, God sent burning serpents upon them, and when they cried out to Moses, God told him to make a bronze serpent (Numbers 21:8-9). Whoever looked upon it would be healed. Hezekiah saw that Israel was committing sins and said, "Now anyone who needs to be healed will go to this and leave God." So, he destroyed the bronze serpent (2 Kings 18:4). The people asked him, "What are you doing? What Moses established, you are abolishing?" He replied, "Whoever needs to be healed should look up to God and be healed," as it says, "Look to Him and be radiant, so that your faces may never be ashamed" (Psalm 34:6). Likewise, it says, "There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him" (2 Kings 18:5), "This is the one who cried out and asked his father. And who is the one who said to his father, 'Why is this strap hanging from me?' These are the Israelites, who said to God, 'You have dealt harshly with Your people' (Micah 7:14) and also said, 'I will raise up the Lord's anger...I will see His righteousness' (Micah 7:9)."

Ye shall not do with Me as you do with gods of silver (Exod. 20:20). Do not act toward Me as men do toward those whom they fear. When good fortune comes to them, they honor those they fear, as it is said: Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and offer unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their food plenteous (Hab. 1:16). However, when afflictions befall them, they curse those they fear, as it is said: And it shall come to pass that, when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse by their king and by their god (Isa. 8:21). However, you shall praise Me both for fortune and for misfortune. Thus David said: I will fill up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord (Ps. 116:13), whether for good or for evil. Then said his wife unto him: “Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? Blaspheme God, and die!” But he said unto her: “Thou speakest as one of the impious women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job. 2:9–10). A man should rejoice over his afflictions more than over his good fortune. Even if man should enjoy good fortune all his life, (this merely indicates that) the sins he committed are not being forgiven. What causes sins to be forgiven? Only suffering.