RASTAFARIANISM

"And when he had spent all his possessions in charity to the poor during the days of the famine, without providing for the morrow, the famine waxed strong in the land of Canaan, and he lacked food to eat. And he said, 'I give thanks unto God that what He hath given unto me I have expended on my servants.'"  (Kebra Nagast: 82)

 

"Do justice to the poor man and to the orphans, and release them from the hand of him that doeth them wrong. And deliver him that is forsaken and the man who is in misery, and release him from the hand of him that causeth him to suffer."  (Kebra Nagast: 41)

 

"In what way is the king superior if he hath not done good upon the earth to the poor?" (Kebra Nagast: 69)

 

"What is the use of us, the children of men, if we do not exercise kindness and love upon earth?"  (Kebra Nagast: 27)

 

"It came to pass in days of old that there lived in the kingdom of Manasseh, the King of Israel, a certain man whose name was Karmin, and he was a fearer of God, and he gave many alms and oblations to the poor of Israel. And when he made offerings to the house of God, he did so with sincerity, and his tithe he gave twofold; and he was good in all his ways, and there was no evil whatsoever before him."  (Kebra Nagast: 75)

 

"And if there is a man who is carrying a heavy load, or if the load hath slipped from the man who is carrying it, ye shall not pass on your way until ye have helped him to lift it up or to lighten it for him; for he is your brother...Ye shall not turn aside the right of the poor and the orphans."  (Kebra Nagast: 90)