Rabbi Shimon ben Halafta Returns the Heavenly Jewel

There is a story about Rabbi Shimon ben Halafta, who came on the eve of the Sabbath and had nothing from which to eat. On the eve of the Sabbath, at nightfall, he went out beyond the city and prayed before the Holy One, blessed be He. Immediately a precious stone was given to him from heaven. He came in and gave it to the money-changer, and provided for the Sabbath, and he sat and ate on the Sabbath night. His wife said to him: From where are these things? He said to her: From that which the Holy One, blessed be He, provided. She said to him: If you do not tell me, I will not taste anything until you tell me. He said to her: Thus and so was the event—I prayed, and a precious stone was given to me from heaven, and these things are from it. She said to him: I will not taste anything until you tell me that you will return it after the Sabbath. He said to her: Why? She said to him: Tomorrow you will come, and your companions with you, and they will receive more, and you will receive less than them. Why? Because the reward of Torah is given only in the world to come, as it is said (Proverbs 31:25), "And she shall laugh at the latter day." When the Sabbath had departed, he arose and returned it, and immediately it was taken from him.