Thereis one who pretendsto be rich,but hasnothing;[Another] pretendsto be poor,but has greatwealth.
Thereis one who scatters,and [yet] increasesallthe more,And there is one who withholdswhatis justlydue,[and yet it results] onlyin want.
Betteris he who is lightlyesteemedand has a servantThanhe who honorshimself and lacksbread.
Wealth[obtained] by frauddwindles,But the one who gathersby laborincreases[it].
The ransomof a man'slifeis his wealth,But the poorhearsnorebuke.
"But Godsaidto him, 'You fool!This[very] nightyour soulis requiredof you; and [now] whowill own whatyou have prepared?'
"Sois the man who stores up treasurefor himself,and is not richtowardGod."
"Sellyour possessionsand giveto charity;makeyourselvesmoney beltswhich do not wearout, an unfailingtreasurein heaven,wherenothiefcomes nearnormothdestroys.
You are alreadyfilled,you have alreadybecome rich,you have becomekingswithoutus; and indeed,[I] wishthat you had become kingssothat we alsomight reignwith you.
But we havethistreasurein earthenvessels,sothat the surpassing greatnessof the powerwill be of Godand not from ourselves;
as sorrowfulyetalwaysrejoicing,as pooryetmakingmanyrich,as havingnothingyetpossessingall things.
Listen,my belovedbrethren:did not Godchoosethe poorof thisworld[to be] richin faithand heirsof the kingdomwhichHe promisedto thosewho loveHim?
promisingthem freedomwhile they themselvesare slavesof corruption;for by whata manis overcome,by thishe is enslaved.
I knowyour tribulationand your poverty(but you are rich),and the blasphemyby thosewho saythey are Jewsand are not, but are a synagogueof Satan.
Becauseyou say,"I amrich,and have become wealthy,and haveneedof nothing,"and you do not knowthat you are wretchedand miserableand poorand blindand naked,
