He that keepeth the law, multiplieth offerings.
2 It is a wholesome sacrifice to take heed to the commandments, and to depart from all iniquity.
3 And to depart from injustice, is to offer a propitiatory sacrifice for injustices, and a begging of pardon for sins.
4 He shall return thanks, that offereth fine flour: and he that doth mercy, offereth sacrifice.
5 To depart from iniquity is that which pleaseth the Lord, and to depart from injustice, is an entreaty for sins.
6 Thou shalt not appear empty in the sight of the Lord.
7 For all these things are to be done because of the commandment of God.
8 The oblation of the just maketh the altar fat, and is an odour of sweetness in the sight of the most High.
9 The sacrifice of the just is acceptable, and the Lord will not forget the memorial thereof.
10 Give glory to God with a good heart: and diminish not the firstfruits of thy hands.
11 In every gift shew a cheerful countenance, and sanctify thy tithes with joy.
12 Give to the most High according to what he hath given to thee, and with a good eye do according to the ability of thy hands:
13 For the Lord maketh recompense, and will give thee seven times as much.
14 Do not offer wicked gifts, for such he will not receive.
15 And look not upon an unjust sacrifice, for the Lord is judge, and there is not with him respect of person.
16 The Lord will not accept any person against a poor man, and he will hear the prayer of him that is wronged.
17 He will not despise the prayers of the fatherless; nor the widow, when she poureth out her complaint.
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18 Do not the widow’s tears run down the cheek, and her cry against him that causeth them to fall?
19 For from the cheek they go up even to heaven, and the Lord that heareth will not be delighted with them.
20 He that adoreth God with joy, shall be accepted, and his prayer shall approach even to the clouds.
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21 The prayer of him that humbleth himself, shall pierce the clouds: and till it come nigh he will not be comforted: and he will not depart till the most High behold.
22 And the Lord will not be slack, but will judge for the just, and will do judgment: and the Almighty will not have patience with them, that he may crush their back:
23 And he will repay vengeance to the Gentiles, till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptres of the unjust,
24 Till he have rendered to men according to their deeds: and according to the works of Adam, and according to his presumption,
25 Till he have judged the cause of his people, and he shall delight the just with his mercy.
26 The mercy of God is beautiful in the time of affliction, as a cloud of rain in the time of drought.
Origen
“The soul should attend not only to the hearing of the words but to the understanding of the realities. Recall the past, understand the present, attend to the future. Compare events in their succession, and contemplate the magnificence of the divine powers. Earlier, six hundred thousand armed sons of Israel advanced against Midian, and they were all defeated because of the sin that was in them. Now, however, the victorious Midianites, who had routed six hundred thousand men, are beaten by twelve thousand, so that you would know that Israel does not win by the multitude or number of its soldiers but by the justice and piety that are in them. Thus also in their blessings it is said that if they observe the law of the Lord, one of them will pursue a thousand, and two will cause ten thousand to flee. See, then, that a single saint who prays is worth much more than innumerable sinners in battle. "The prayer of the Holy One pierces heaven." How will it not also defeat earthly enemies? For this reason, in every way you must make an effort to "seek" first and to preserve "the righteousness of God." If you attain it and keep it, it will subject all of your enemies to you: if, as the apostle says, you are "clothed with the breastplate of righteousness and the belt of truth, if you take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit" and, above all, the "shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one." Equipped with these weapons, you will put to flight all of the camps of the devil and his whole army, and you will faithfully sing, "If they encamp against me, my heart will not fear. If they raise a battle against me, even then will I hope."”
Fulgentius of Ruspe
“We defeat the adversary only if we fight with tears and with prayers, in continual humility of heart. It is written, in fact, that "the prayer of the humble penetrates the clouds and is not withdrawn from God until it is answered." The weeping of the humble is therefore a great antidote against carnal concupiscence. Tears that spring from compunction of heart defeat the enemy and gain for us the gift of a victorious happiness. In fact, those who "go out weeping, scattering their seeds, will return rejoicing, carrying their sheaves." How wisely the holy prophet teaches that the seeds of good works must be watered with rivers of tears! Indeed, no seed germinates without being watered. Nor does a seed bear fruit if it has been without the benefit of water. We also, therefore, if we wish to harvest the fruits of our seeds, should not cease watering them with tears, which should spring from the heart more than from the body. This is why we are told through the prophet to rend our hearts, not our garments.”
Augustine of Hippo
“When tribulation comes, you will not be without help. This will show you that what he sent you during the day was true. In a certain passage it is written, "Mercy is as wonderful in time of affliction as clouds that bear rain in time of drought." "By day the Lord sent his mercy, and by night I will tell of it." At no time does he show you his help more than when tribulation comes, in such a way that he who had promised by day that he would do so, frees you from it.”