Once upon a time a pious man was walking across a field when the time for prayer arrived. So he stood still and began to pray.

As he was praying, a governor came along riding on horseback and saluted him. But the pious man did not return the greeting and remained silent.

The governor waited until he had finished his prayers, then he said to him: "You scoundrel, why did you not return my greeting when I saluted you? If I should cut your head off, who would say anything to me?"

The pious man replied: "Pray, listen to my answer." And he began as follows: "Dear Sir, if you were standing before a human king of flesh and blood and speaking to him, and another man came along and addressed you, would you answer him?"

The governor replied: "No, I would not answer him."

Then the pious man continued: "And suppose you did answer him, what do you think would happen to you?"

And the governor replied: "I would be afraid that the king might have my head cut off."

The pious man replied: "Behold now, if standing before a king of flesh and blood who lives today and tomorrow he is dead, you would be afraid of having your head cut off, how much more should I have been afraid, standing as I was before a king who is called the King of Kings, who is not a being of flesh and blood, who lives forever and does not pass away! How, then, could I have answered your greeting? I had to fear that in His wrath He might have killed me."

When the governor heard how well the pious man had answered, he was well pleased with him and said to him: "You have answered me very well."

So the pious man returned home in peace.

Therefore, every Jew should say his prayers with proper devotion, and no evil will happen to him.