Midrash sobre Jó 22:29

Simon b. Shetaeh then sent him word, saying: "If thou wert not Choni, I should have decreed the ban over thee; for were these years as those when Elijah said that no rain should fall, and when he had the key to rain, wouldst thou not have desecrated the Holy Name? But what shall I do with thee, since thou art petulant towards God, and yet He forgiveth and indulgeth thee like a spoiled child who is petulant towards his father and says: 'Father, bathe me in hot water, bathe me in cold water, give me nuts, almonds, apricots, and pomegranates,' and he gives them to him. To thee may be applied the passage (Prov. 23, 25) Let (then) thy father and thy mother rejoice, and let her that hath born thee be glad." Our Rabbis were taught: "Thus the Sanhedrin sitting in the chamber of marble sent to Choni Hama'gel after the occurrence. (Job 22, 28) And if thou decree a thing, it will be fulfilled unto thee. Thou hast decreed below, and the Holy One, praised be He, ratified it above, and upon thy ways the light will shine, i.e., the generation which was in darkness thou hast enlightened with thy prayer." (Ib. ib. 29) For when men are brought low, thou wilt say elevate; i.e., a generation that were low, thou hast elevated through thy power. And those of lowly eyes thou didst help, i.e., a generation that was low on account of its sins hast thou helped with thy prayers. He will even deliver him who is not guiltless; i.e., a generation that was not guiltless hast thou delivered through thy prayer. And thou wilt be delivered by the purity of thy hands; i.e., through what were they delivered? Through the purity of thy hands.