Midrash su Geremia 9:4

Rab took leave of R. Chiya, and the latter said to him: "May the Merciful save thee from the thing that is worse than death." Is there then a thing that is worse than death? [Rab thought to himself]. He proceeded to look into the matter until he found the passage (Ecc. 7, 26) And I find as more bitter than death the woman. Rab was often annoyed by his wife, so that when he asked her to prepare for him lentile, she would prepare small peas for him; and when he asked for peas, she would prepare lentile. When his son Chiya grew up he used to reverse [the orders, and thus the result was just what Rab wanted.] "Thy mother improved herself," Rab once remarked to his son. To which his son replied: "I caused it, because I had reversed the orders." Whereupon Rab said to him: "This is what people say: "Thy own descendant will teach thee sense.' However, thou shalt not do so [any more], because it is said (er. 9, 4) They have taught their tongue to speak falsehood, they weary themselves to commit iniquity." R. Chiya was often vexed by his wife, [nevertheless] when he found anything [suitable for her] he would tie it up in his cloak and bring it to her. When Rab [once] said to him: "Behold she is annoying the master" [and why yet bring her presents?] He answered: "It is sufficient for us that they raise our children and prevent us (Ib. b) from sin." R. Juda discussed the following passage with his son Isaac: And I find as more bitter than death the woman. The latter asked: "Who, for example?" "Like thy mother," came the reply. Is that so? Did not R. Juda teach R. Isaac his son: "One does not find pleasure only in his first wife, as it is said (Pr. 5, 18) Thy fountain will be blessed; and rejoice with the wife of thy youth." And when the latter asked him: "Who, for example?" to which the reply came, "Like your mother." She was irascible, nevertheless could be easily appeased with a word. What constitutes a bad wife? Abaye said: "One who has a tray ready for her husband, and has a mouth ready for him [to scold."] Rab said: "One who prepares a tray for him, and turns her back to him."