Someone secretly began to sow weeds in a wheat field while the owner and servants were sleeping. The servants rushed to quickly pull them out, but the owner said that during the harvest they could more effectively separate the wheat from the chaff.
The servants consulted and said to each other:
“It would be better to pull the weeds now than to wait, but we must obey the master, even if he is wrong.” In the meantime, let's find out what kind of enemy is doing this evil to our master, who is so kind to everyone and does not deserve such punishment.
They quietly made inquiries and searched throughout the area, but found no one; they could not find any enemy. One of the servants came privately to the chief servant at night and said:
- Sir, forgive me, but I can no longer hide my secret. I know the enemy who sowed the tares, I saw him.
In response to this, the chief servant was surprised and filled with anger. But before punishing him, he asked the servant why he had not come earlier.
“I didn’t dare,” the servant cried. “It was with fear that I dared to come and tell you this even now.” I was awake that night when the tares were sown, I saw the man who did this. He walked past me, seemingly awake, but still asleep. He didn't seem to recognize me, but I recognized him.
- And who was it? - asked the chief servant in great excitement. “Tell me so he can be punished.”
The servant hung his head. Finally, in a weak voice, he answered:
- It was the owner himself.
And they both agreed not to say anything about it to a single person.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru