Commodian — Instructiones 64

Why do you feign yourself good by another’s wound, you worthless one? Whence you give lavishly, another weeps daily. You refuse to believe the Lord sees this — you are taught. “The Highest does not approve gifts of the unjust,” he says. You burst upon the wretched when you have gained places. Another gives gifts to empty another, or if you have lent at a double hundredth of interest, you want to give from that to cleanse yourself as of evil: the Omnipotent utterly refuses such works. You give as a candidate from tears; he, blackened, pressed by usury, weeps made poor. Having gained time besides, the enemy snatches with his mouths; for the moment you, unjust, fill peoples — holy ones — at a price. And if from trade’s profit you want to purify yourself, you strike yourself, not another, I say, unjust one.