There were once three poor men. The first wanted to get rich, the second wanted to become a scholar and the third wanted a good wife. Elijah came and gave one dinar to the first man on the condition that he would remain meek and be charitable. To the second he gave an Alpha Betarion on the condition that he should study and teach others. The third he recommended to a woman who appeared bad-tempered, but in reality was a good woman.
Years after, God sent Elijah to test them. Elijah took five orphans to the rich man, and asked assistance to ransom his wife from the hands of robbers. He was refused and beaten by the servants of the rich man. The next day Elijah took back the dinar which he had given him, and the man became poor. He then brought the children to the scholar, and asked him to keep them and teach them. He was refused and turned out. The next day he took away the Alpha Betarion; the man became ignorant and died in misery. Elijah then went to the man with the good wife, and was well received. She gave him the last remaining food in the house and prepared her best bed and pillows for him. She then went to meet her husband and told him that a worthy old man was in the house and not to be angry that there was no food left; then she persuaded him to kill their only calf for the weary old traveller. Elijah rewarded them, and gave them both the money and wisdom taken from the two others.