The servant went back and told all this to his master. The master was furious and said to his servant, 'Hurry out to the streets and alleys of the town, and bring back the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'

But give what is in your cups and plates to the poor, and everything will be ritually clean for you.

This food is for the Levites, since they own no property, and for the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. They are to come and get all they need. Do this, and the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.

Be joyful in the LORD's presence, together with your children, your servants, and the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. Do this at the one place of worship.

Enjoy it with your children, your servants, and the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns.

"Every third year give the tithe---a tenth of your crops---to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows, so that in every community they will have all they need to eat. When you have done this,

say to the LORD, 'None of the sacred tithe is left in my house; I have given it to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows, as you commanded me to do. I have not disobeyed or forgotten any of your commands concerning the tithe.

and distributed food to them all. He gave each man and woman in Israel a loaf of bread, a piece of roasted meat, and some raisins. Then everyone went home.

King Hezekiah contributed 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for the people to kill and eat, and the officials gave them another 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. A large number of priests went through the ritual of purification.

Now go home and have a feast. Share your food and wine with those who don't have enough. Today is holy to our Lord, so don't be sad. The joy that the LORD gives you will make you strong."

So all the people went home and ate and drank joyfully and shared what they had with others, because they understood what had been read to them.

People who were in deepest misery praised me, and I helped widows find security.

I was eyes for the blind, and feet for the lame.

I was like a father to the poor and took the side of strangers in trouble.

I have never refused to help the poor; never have I let widows live in despair

All my life I have taken care of them.

I would give him clothing made of wool that had come from my own flock of sheep. Then he would praise me with all his heart.

Honor the LORD by making him an offering from the best of all that your land produces.

If you do, your barns will be filled with grain, and you will have too much wine to store it all.

If you oppress poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship.

Alcohol is for people who are dying, for those who are in misery.

Let them drink and forget their poverty and unhappiness.

Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives.

if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon.

Jesus got out of the boat, and when he saw the large crowd, his heart was filled with pity for them, and he healed their sick.

"They don't have to leave," answered Jesus. "You yourselves give them something to eat!"

"Then bring them here to me," Jesus said.

Everyone ate and had enough. Then the disciples took up twelve baskets full of what was left over.

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I feel sorry for these people, because they have been with me for three days and now have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away without feeding them, for they might faint on their way home."

"How much bread do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven loaves," they answered, "and a few small fish."

Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks to God, broke them, and gave them to the disciples; and the disciples gave them to the people.

The number of men who ate was four thousand, not counting the women and children.

So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, good and bad alike; and the wedding hall was filled with people.

All the believers continued together in close fellowship and shared their belongings with one another.

They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed.

There was no one in the group who was in need. Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money received from the sale,

and turn it over to the apostles; and the money was distributed according to the needs of the people.

So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, he was taken to the room upstairs, where all the widows crowded around him, crying and showing him all the shirts and coats that Dorcas had made while she was alive.

Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.

Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep.

A church leader must be without fault; he must have only one wife, be sober, self-controlled, and orderly; he must welcome strangers in his home; he must be able to teach;

and have a reputation for good deeds: a woman who brought up her children well, received strangers in her home, performed humble duties for other Christians, helped people in trouble, and devoted herself to doing good.

He must be hospitable and love what is good. He must be self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all of God's people.

Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it.