Rabbi Yannai would check [a shaky bridge] and only then cross. Rabbi Yannai follows his own reasoning, for he said: A person should never stand in a place of danger and say that a miracle will be done for him, for perhaps no miracle will be done for him; and if a miracle is done for him, it is deducted from his merits. Rabbi Chanin said: Which pasuk [teaches this]? “I have become small [in merit] because of all the kindnesses and all the faithfulness [that You have shown Your servant]” (Bereishis 32:11).