“The Lord tests the righteous, but He hates the wicked and the lover of injustice” (Psalms 11:5) – Rabbi Yonatan said: A potter does not test flimsy jugs, as he would not be able to knock on them even once without breaking them. What does he test? Sturdy jugs, as even if he knocks on them several times, they do not break. So, too, the Holy One blessed be He tests only the righteous, as it is stated: “The Lord tests the righteous."
Rabbi Yosei ben Ḥanina said: A linen producer, when he knows that his flax is high quality, the more he crushes it the better it becomes; the more he beats it the more it improves. But when he knows that the flax is low quality, he would not be able to beat it even once without it breaking. So, too, the Holy One blessed be He tests only the righteous, as it is stated: “The Lord tests the righteous.”
Rabbi Eliezer said: This is analogous to a proprietor [of a farm] who had two cows, one strong and one feeble. Upon which one does he place the yoke? Is it not upon the strong one? So, too, the Holy One blessed be He tests only the righteous, as it is stated: “The Lord tests the righteous.”
“The Lord tests the righteous” – this refers to Noah,4The test was to see if he would leave the ark as soon as the ground conditions allowed it, or if he would wait for God’s permission. He passed this test, and did not leave until God said: “Go out of the ark.” as it is stated: “Go out of the ark.”