The importance of almsgiving (Tob 12:8-12:10)

“Prayer with fasting is good.

Better than both is almsgiving with righteousness.

A little with righteousness is better

Than wealth with wrongdoing.

It is better to give alms

Than to lay up gold.

Almsgiving saves from death.

Almsgiving purges away every sin.

Those who give alms will enjoy a full life.

Those who commit sin

Those who do wrong

Are their own worst enemies.”

Raphael’s prayer continues by insisting on the importance of almsgiving. Raphael says that almsgiving is better than prayer and fasting. Being poor and righteous is better than having wealth doing wrong. It is better to give than to lay away gold. Almsgiving will save you from death and purge away every sin. If you give gifts, you will enjoy a full life. Here then is the final admonition like the wisdom literature. Those who commit sin and do wrong are their own worst enemies. In other words, sin and wrong doing will come back at you.