Better a dry crust with peace, a little with a clear conscience, than luxury acquired through wickedness. Sooner or later such wealth will collapse; but even if ruin is still far away, it is impossible to enjoy the fruits of such prosperity fully while constantly feeling anxious and surrounded by enemies and envious people.

Mocking a poor person is once again equated with blasphemy. The spiritual sphere cannot be separated from the social one, nor can social problems be treated as earthly and base. Some “pious” people consider works of mercy and charity unimportant in comparison with deep prayer. But will a prayer that shuns deeds be heard?

The words saying that whoever conceals an offense seeks love could, if one wished, be interpreted as advice to indulge evil; but here too what is said must be considered alongside other words of Scripture. The apostle would say the same when he noted that love “bears all things” (1 Cor 13:7). This is not about concealing evil, but about forgiveness: about not allowing the memory of past sins and offenses to turn our heart to stone or make us like Lot's wife, who looked back and therefore became a pillar of salt.