40 Bible Verses about Benevolence

If there be with thee a poor man, one of thy brothers, within any of thy gates in thy land which LORD thy God gives thee, thou shall not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother, but thou shall surely open thy hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need which he wants. Beware that there not be a base thought in thy heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand, and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou give him nothing, and he cry to LORD against thee, and it beread more.
Thou shall surely give him, and thy heart shall not be grieved when thou give to him, because for this thing LORD thy God will bless thee in all thy work, and in all that thou put thy hand to. For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shall surely open thy hand to thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor, in thy land. If thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to thee, and serves thee six years, then in the seventh year thou shall let him go free from thee. And when thou let him go free from thee, thou shall not let him go empty. Thou shall furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy threshing-floor, and out of thy winepress. As LORD thy God has blessed thee thou shall give to him. And thou shall remember that thou were a bondman in the land of Egypt, and LORD thy God redeemed thee. Therefore I command thee this thing today.

And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at evening. Now the man was of the hill-country of Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibeah, but the men of the place were Benjamites. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city. And the old man said, Where do thou go? And from where do thou come? And he said to him, We are passing from Bethlehem-judah to the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim. I am from there, and I went to Bethlehem-judah. And I am [now] going to the house of LORD, and there is no man that takes mread more.
Yet there is both straw and provender for our donkeys, and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man who is with thy servants. There is no want of anything. And the old man said, Peace be to thee. However let all thy wants lay upon me, only do not lodge in the street. So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder. And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.

And David said to him, Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore to thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shall eat bread at my table continually.

But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those who eat at thy table, for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom thy brother.

And I said to them, According to our ability we have redeemed our brothers the Jews, who were sold to the nations, and would ye even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us? Then they were silent, and found not a word. Also I said, The thing that ye do is not good. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies? And I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.read more.
Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. Then they said, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them, so will we do, even as thou say. Then I called the priests, and took an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.

Then he said to them, Go your way, eat fat things, and drink sweet things, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our LORD; neither be ye grieved, for the joy of LORD is your strength. So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, Be silent, for the day is holy, neither be ye grieved.

For when the ear heard [me], then it blessed me, and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me. Because I delivered the poor who cried, also the fatherless who had none to help him. The blessing of him who was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.read more.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the case of him whom I did not know. And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it (no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and her I have guided from my mother's womb);read more.
if I have seen any perish for lack of clothing, or that the needy had no covering; if his loins have not blessed me, and if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep; if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate, then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the bone. For calamity from God is a terror to me, and I can do nothing because of his majesty.

Blessed is he who considers a poor man. LORD will deliver him in the day of evil.

He has scattered, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn shall be exalted with honor.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it. Do not say to thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give, when thou have it by thee.

The generous soul shall be made prosperous, and he who waters shall also be watered himself.

He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.

If thine enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

He who gives to the poor shall not lack, but he who hides his eyes shall have many a curse.

To him who was thirsty they brought water. The inhabitants of the land of Tema met the fugitives with their bread.

Is it not to deal thy bread to a hungry man, and that thou bring the poor who are cast out to thy house, when thou see a naked man, that thou cover him, and that thou not hide thyself from thine own flesh?

and if thou draw out thy soul to a hungry man, and satisfy an afflicted soul, then thy light shall rise in darkness, and thine obscurity be as the noonday.

and has not wronged any man, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has taken nothing by robbery, has given his bread to a hungry man, and has covered a naked man with a garment,

Give to him who asks thee, and turn thou not away from him who wants to borrow from thee.

Jesus said to him, If thou want to be perfect, go, sell the things being possessed by thee, and give to the poor, and thou will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.

For I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat. I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink. I was a stranger, and ye took me in, naked, and ye clothed me. I was feeble, and ye came to help me. I was in prison, and ye came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungering, and fed thee, or thirsting, and gave thee drink?read more.
And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in, or naked, and clothed thee? And when did we see thee weak, or in prison, and came to thee? And having answered, the King will say to them, Truly I say to you, inasmuch as ye did it to one of these my brothers, the least, ye did it to me. Then he will also say to those at the left hand, Depart from me, ye accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his agents. For I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat, I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink, I was a stranger, and ye did not take me in, naked, and ye did not clothe me, weak, and in prison, and ye did not come to help me. Then they will also answer, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or weak, or in prison, and did not serve thee? Then he will answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of these least, ye did it not to me.

For whoever may give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye are of Christ, truly I say to you, he will, no, not lose his reward.

And having answered, he says to them, He who has two coats, let him share with him not having, and he who has food, let him do likewise.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to him, and when he saw him, felt compassion. And having come, he wrapped up his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. And having set him on his own beast, he brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when departing, after taking out two denarii, he gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him, and whatever thou might spend more, I will repay thee at my return.

But give compassion, things that are inside, and behold, all things are clean to you.

And having stood, Zacchaeus said to the Lord, Behold, half of the things possessed by me, Lord, I give to the poor. And if I defrauded any man of anything, I repay fourfold.

And all who believed were together, and had all things common. And they sold properties and possessions, and divided them to all, according as any man had need. And continuing steadfastly, daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they partook of nourishment in gladness and evenness of heart,

And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. And not even one man said that anything of the things that was possessed by him was his own, but all things were common to them. And with great power the apostles gave back the testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. For not even any needy was among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses, selling, they brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,read more.
and placed them at the apostles' feet. And it was distributed to each, according as any man had need. And Joses, who was surnamed by the apostles, Barnabas (which is, being translated, son of encouragement), a Levite, a Cypriot by nationality, having sold a field that was possessed by him, brought the money and placed it at the apostles' feet.

Now in those days, the disciples being multiplied, there developed a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily assistance.

Now at Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which, being translated, is called Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charities that she did. And in those days, having been ill, she happened to died. And after washing her, they laid her in an upper chamber. And since Lydda is near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter is in it, they sent two men to him, exhorting him not to delay to go through to them.read more.
And after rising, Peter went with them, whom, after coming, they brought into the upper chamber. And all the widows stood by him weeping, and exhibiting the coats and garments, as many things as Dorcas made being with them.

a devout man, and fearing God with all his house, and doing many charities for the people, and beseeching God always.

And after gazing at him, and having become afraid, he said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thy charities have come up for a memorial before God.

And the disciples, as any man prospered, determined, each of them regarding aid, to send to the brothers who dwell in Judea,

For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a certain participation for the poor of the sanctified at Jerusalem. For they were pleased. And they are debtors of them, for if the gentiles were partakers in their spiritual things, they are obligated also to serve them in the carnal things.

And if I dole out all things possessed by me, and if I deliver my body so that I may be burned, and have not love, I benefit nothing.

Now concerning the collection for the sanctified, as I arranged for the congregations of Galatia, so also do ye. Upon the first day of the week let each of you set something aside near himself, storing up whatever he may prosper, so that when I come no collections may be made then. And when I arrive, whomever ye may approve by letters, I will send these men to bring your gift to Jerusalem.

And, brothers, we declare to you the grace of God that has been given in the congregations of Macedonia, that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy, even from the depth of their poverty, abounded for the wealth of their generosity, so that according to their ability, I testify, and beyond their ability, willingly,read more.
with much exhortation, begging of us the favor, even the fellowship of service for the sanctified. And it was not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us through the will of God, for us to urge Titus that, as he earlier began this kindness, so he would even finish it for you also. But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, be that ye may also abound in this kindness. I speak not from commandment, but because of the zeal of others, also examining the genuineness of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich he became poor for your sakes, so that by that man's poverty ye might become rich. And in this I give judgment, for this is expedient for you who earlier began, from a year ago, not only the doing but also the intending. And now also finish the doing, so that just as was the willingness of the intending, so also to finish from the having. For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable to the extent if some man has, not to the extent he does not have. For it is not, so that ease is for others and stress for you, but out of parity your abundance at the present time is for the need of those men. So that the abundance of those men may also happen for your need, so that there may become equity, as it is written, he of much did not abound, and he of little did not lack.

Therefore show ye the proof of your love and our boast about you, for them in the face of the congregations.

For indeed it is superfluous for me to write to you about the service for the sanctified.