Sifrei Devarim 308

¹(Devarim 32:5) " Shicheth lo lo. Banav mumam ": Even though they are full of blemishes, they are still called sons ( banim ). These are the words of R. Meir. And thus was R. Meir wont to say: If when they are full of blemishes they are called " banim ," if they are unblemished, how much more so! Similarly (Isaiah 1:4) "evil seed, corrupt sons": If when they are corrupt they are called "sons," if they were not corrupt, how much more so! Similarly, (Jeremiah 4:22) "They are wise to do evil": Now does this not follow a fortiori ? If they do evil they are called "wise," how much more so, if they do good! Similarly, ( Ibid .) "They are foolish sons, and not understanding": Does this not follow a fortiori ? If when they are foolish, they are called "sons," how much more so, if they were understanding! Similarly, (Ezekiel 23:31) "And they come to you as a people comes, and My people sit before you and hear your words": I might think, they hear and fulfill; it is, therefore, written ( Ibid .) "but they do not fulfill them." Now does this not follow a fortiori ? If when they hear and do not fulfill they are called "My people," how much more so, when they hear and fulfill! ²They said in the name of Abba the expounder: " shicheth lo ": Israel has corrupted itself ; (and) "not" its Father in heaven. And why all this? So as not to give a pretext to the wicked to say: "If we sin against Him, we distress Him" (for which reason He has forbidden us to sin). An analogy: A man is taken out to be crucified. His father cries over him and his mother cries and beats her breast over him. He says: "Woe unto me!" and she says: "Woe unto me!" But there is woe only unto him who is taken out to be crucified! And thus does Scripture state (Isaiah 3:9) "Woe unto their souls, for they have brought evil upon themselves!" ³(Devarim, Ibid .) "a crooked and twisted generation": Moses hereby says to Israel: You are crooked and twisted. You are fit only for the flame! An analogy: One has a twisted staff in his hand. He gives it to a craftsman to repair. (If he can) he repairs it by hand. If not, he straightens it with a press; if not, he shapes it with an adze; if not — he consigns it to the flames! And thus does Scripture state (Ezekiel 21:36-37) "I will place you in the hands of brutish men, artisans of destruction. You will be consigned to the flames!" ⁴Variantly: "a crooked and twisted generation": Moses hereby says to Israel: "With the measure that you have measured I have measured you." And thus is it written (II Samuel 22:27) "With the pure You are pure, and with the crooked You are crafty."