[Concerning Doing Good.]
XII. If thou hast by the work of thy hands, give, that thou mayest labour for the redemption of thy sins; for “by alms and acts of faith sins are purged away.” 84 Ps. xlv. Ps. xlv. Thou shalt not grudge to give to the poor, nor when thou hast given shalt thou murmur; for thou shalt know who will repay thee thy reward. For says he: “He that hath mercy on the poor man lendeth to the Lord; according to his gift, so shall it be repaid him again.” 85 Prov. viii. 22–25. Prov. viii. 22–25. Thou shalt not turn away from him that is needy; for says he: “He that stoppeth his ears, that he may not hear the cry of the needy, himself also shall call, and there shall be none to hear him.” 86 Prov. ix. 1. Prov. ix. 1. Thou shall communicate in all things to thy brother, and shall not say thy goods are thine own; for the common participation of the necessaries of life is appointed to all men by God. Thou shalt not take off thine hand from thy son or from thy daughter, but shalt teach them the fear of God from their youth; for says he: “Correct thy son, so shall he afford thee good hope.” 87 Isa. xi. 1, 10. Isa. xi. 1, 10.
[12] Μὴ γίνου πρὸς μὲν τὸ λαβεῖν ἐκτείνων τὴν χεῖρα, πρὸς δὲ τὸ δοῦναι συστέλλων. Ἐὰν ἔχῃς διὰ τῶν χειρῶν σου, δὸς ἵνα ἐργάσῃ εἰς λύτρωσιν ἁμαρτιῶν σου: »Ἐλεημοσύναις γὰρ καὶ πίστεσιν ἀποκαθαίρονται ἁμαρτίαι.« Οὐ διστάσεις δοῦναι πτωχῷ, οὐδὲ διδοὺς γογγύσεις: γνώσῃ γὰρ τίς ἐστιν ὁ τοῦ μισθοῦ ἀνταποδότης: »Ὁ ἐλεῶν γάρ, φησίν, πτωχὸν Κυρίῳ δανείζει, κατὰ δὲ τὸ δόμα αὐτοῦ, οὕτως ἀνταποδοθήσεται αὐτῷ.« Οὐκ ἀποστραφήσῃ ἐνδεόμενον: »Ὃς φράσσει γάρ, φησί, τὰ ὦτα αὐτοῦ τοῦ μὴ εἰσακοῦσαι τοῦ δεομένου, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπικαλέσεται, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ εἰσακούων αὐτοῦ.« Κοινωνήσεις εἰς πάντα τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου καὶ οὐκ ἐρεῖς ἴδια εἶναι, κοινὴ γὰρ ἡ μετάληψις παρὰ Θεοῦ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις παρεσκευάσθη.