The Most High does not accept the gifts of wicked men. The one who offers a sacrifice taken from what belongs to the poor is like one who sacrifices a child in the very sight of the child’s father. Riches, says Scripture, which a person gathers unjustly, will be vomited out of that person’s stomach. The angel of death will drag such a one away, to be crushed by the anger of dragons. Such a one will the tongue of a serpent slay, and the fire which cannot be extinguished will consume. And Scripture also says: ‘Woe to those who fill themselves with what does not belong to them’. And: ‘What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet suffer the loss of his own soul?’
It would take a long time to discuss or refer one by one, and to gather from the whole law all that is stated about such greed. Avarice is a deadly crime. Do not covet your neighbour’s goods.
Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus, Patrick of Ireland, translation by Padraig McCarthy (alt.)
4 comments:
Hello, Brother Vaughn,
I could not recall what the author was referring to in the Bible. Where in the Bible does it say that "Riches, which a person gathers unjustly, will be vomited out of that person’s stomach"? Prov. 20:17 and 21:6 are relevant to the topic, but do not say that. Proverbs 23:8 speaks of someone vomiting up the morsel he's eaten, but it's not speaking of ill-gotten gain.
Oops. I forgot to sign off.
E. T. Chapman
Good to hear from you brother. I think this is probably a reference to Job 20:15, He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
Ahh! Thank you.
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