“Did you set out your cry when [you were] not in trouble?” (Iyov 36:19). Rabbi Elazar said: A person should always put prayer before trouble. For had Avraham not put prayer before trouble between Beis El and Ai [where Yisrael later fell, in the days of Yehoshua], there would not have remained of the wicked of Yisrael a remnant or a survivor. Reish Lakish said: Whoever strengthens himself in prayer below has no adversaries above. Rabbi Yochanan said: A person should always ask for mercy, that all should strengthen his power, and that he should have no adversaries above.