A thief was once brought before a king. He was charged with having a hole in the wall of a man’s house and stolen jewelry from there. The thief fell upon his knees and wept piteously. Then he said, “Your majesty, I am very poor and honest man. I have never committed any sin. But this hand of mine has taken to the wicked ways. It has been guilty of all kinds of misdeeds. I have often been disgraced because of its wickedness. It is this hand that made the hole in the wall. The jewelry was also stolen by the hand. I am absolutely innocent.” “You are right,” said the king. “I also believe that you to be innocent. You deserve all pity. But your hand must be punished. Your hand will have to go to prison for five years. You can stay outside.”
