Chapter 9. Her Splendid Generosity, Free of Ostentation

¹ Nor do your nighttime gifts go unnoticed, even though you take pains that they should. Even done at night, their light shines through, and by this the Father in heaven is glorified. And yet your right hand’s deed is hidden from your left—that is, from the opposing portion. For to extend one’s mercy freely is the work of the right hand; but not to display the good one does, not to sound a trumpet for one’s own kindness—this is what it means to hide from that portion of vainglory that is sent away into Gehenna. This, I think, is how I understand the saying, Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.