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6 The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. ⁹As it is written,
‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
   his righteousness^* endures for ever.’
¹⁰He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.^{* 11}You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us;

Psalm 112

1  Alleluia.
      Blessed are those who fear the Lord ♦︎
   and have great delight in his commandments.
2  Their descendants will be mighty in the land, ♦︎
   a generation of the faithful that will be blest.
3  Wealth and riches will be in their house, ♦︎
   and their righteousness endures for ever.
4  Light shines in the darkness for the upright; ♦︎
   gracious and full of compassion are the righteous.
5  It goes well with those who are generous in lending ♦︎
   and order their affairs with justice,
6  For they will never be shaken; ♦︎
   the righteous will be held in everlasting remembrance.
7  They will not be afraid of any evil tidings; ♦︎
   their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8  Their heart is sustained and will not fear, ♦︎
   until they see the downfall of their foes.
9  They have given freely to the poor;
      their righteousness stands fast for ever; ♦︎
   their head will be exalted with honour.
10  The wicked shall see it and be angry;
      they shall gnash their teeth in despair; ♦︎
   the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Concerning Almsgiving

6‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 ‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ³But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.^*

Concerning Prayer

5 ‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ⁶But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.^*

Concerning Fasting

16 ‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ¹⁷But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.^*