And one of the plaintiffs said that the maiden was the most worthy of praise, for her steadfastness to her oath. Another marvelled at the great love of her bridegroom; the third, however, found the action of the robber the most magnanimous one.
And the king said to the last:
“Therefore, it is even thou who hast stolen the belt with the common gold, for thou art by nature covetous, and dost desire that which is not thine.”
But this man, having given his travelling staff to one of his companions, spake, raising his hands aloft as though for an oath:
“I witness before Jehovah that the gold is not with me, but him!”
The king smiled and commanded one of his warriors:
“Take this man’s rod and break it in half.”
And when the warrior had carried out Solomon’s order, gold coins poured out upon the floor, for they had been concealed within the hollowed-out stick; as for the thief, he, struck by the wisdom of the king, fell down before his throne and confessed his misdeed.
There also came into the House of Lebanon a woman, the poor widow of a stone-cutter, and she spake:
“I cry for justice, O King! For the last two dinarii left me I bought flour, put it into this large earthen bowl, and started to carry it home. But a strong wind suddenly arose and did scatter my flour. O wise king, who shall bring back this my loss? I now have naught wherewith to feed my children.”