Midrash su Deuteronomio 32:19

(Fol. 8 b) R. Chiya b. Abba was teaching the Bible to the children of Resh Lakish, and according to others he was teaching them the Mishna. It happened that the teacher's child died. On the first day Resh Lakish did not visit him, but on the second day he took Juda b. Nachmeni, his interpreter, with him and went to console him. "Come, say something in regard to the lost child," remarked Resh Lakish to his interpreter. The latter began the following (Deut. 32, 19) "And the Lord saw this and He was angry; because of the provoking of His sons and of His daughters; i.e., a generation in which the parents were insulting, the Holy One, praised be He! — will make Him angry at their sons and daughters [and cause them to die while young."] According to another authority, the dead was a young man, and he applied the following passage (Is. 9, 16) Therefore shall the Lord have no joy in their young men, neither shall He have compassion upon their fatherless and widows; for everyone is a hypocrite and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh wantoness, for all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand still remaineth stretched out. What does but His hand still remaineth stretched out, mean? R. Chanan b. Rab said: "This means that if one makes his mouth turpid and speaks obscenity, even if a Divine decree granting him happiness had been sealed for him for seventy years it would be turned into evil." He came with the purpose to console, and he grieved him? He said thus to him: "Thou hast been [found] worthy to be seized [to suffer] for the [sin of the] generation." He then said to his interpreter: "Come and say something concerning the glorification of the Holy One, praised be He!" He began to say: "O God, who art great in Thy greatness! Mighty and powerful in Thy magnitude! Who revivest the dead by Thy word. Thou causest inexpressible wonders and numberless miracles. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who revivest the dead." He then said to his interpreter: "Rise and say something in honor of the mourners." Whereupon he began to say: "Our brethren, who are worn out and crushed by this bereavement, lay your heart to examine this. This is a thing which exists for ever more. Such is the way (the course of events) since the days of creation. Many have drunk the [cup of grief] and many will yet drink it, as the former [generation] drank it so will the latter [generation] drink it. Our brethren, He who comforts the mourners shall comfort you." Abaye said: "Many have drunk the cup of bitterness, one is allowed to say; but 'many will drink it,' one should not say. 'As the former [generation] drank [the cup of bitterness,'] it should be said, but 'so the latter [generation] will drink' should not be said; for R. Simon b. Lakish said, and so it was also taught in the name of R. Jose, that a man shall never open his mouth for Satan (i.e., invite misfortune by ominous words)." Said R. Joseph: "Where is the passage to prove this? (Is. 1, 9) Like Sodom should we have been, unto Gomorrah should we have been compared; and what did the passage reply to this? (Ib. ib. 10) Hear the word, ye rulers of Sodom," etc. He then said to his interpreter: "Say something in honor of the consoling of the friends of the mourner." He opened and said: "Our brethren who practice loving kindness, and the sons of [the patriarchs who practiced] loving kindness, who adhere to the covenant of Abraham our patriarch, concerning whom it is said (Gen. 18, 19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household, etc. Our brethren, He who is the master of loving kindness will repay you for your kindness." He again asked his interpreter to say something concerning Israel at large, whereupon he began, and said: "Sovereign of the Universe! Deliver, save, rescue, and help Thy people Israel from pestilence, from the sword, from being a sport [to the enemy,] from blast, from mildew, and from all other calamities which break forth and visit a community. Before we call upon Thee shalt Thou answer us. Praised art Thou who wardeth off an epidemic."

(Devarim 32:19) "And the L-rd saw and thrust away": R. Yehudah says: At the (very) time that they are seen (favorably) by Him, they thrust Him away! "in anger at His sons and daughters."