On-Time Wages

Hi,

"The sages taught:

"From the fact that the Torah (Vayyikra 19) stated, 'Do not let the payment of an employee's work sleep with you,' I can already see that one is in violation [of the law against withholding payment] if he waits [to pay] until the next morning.

"Why did the Torah add, 'until morning?' To teach that the violation is a one-time violation, on that first morning.

"What happens after that? Rav said: One is in violation of a separate prohibition against withholding payment. Rav Yosef asked: What is the scriptural source for this additional prohibition? It is written [Proverbs 3]: 'Do not tell your friend, 'Go and return tomorrow, and I will give it to you,' when you have the payment there now.'"

(Talmud, Bava Metzia 110b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai