| On Giving | ni'o ni'o srana lo zu'o dunda |
| Then said a rich man, "Speak to us of Giving." | ni'o ba ku cusku fa lo pa ricfu nanmu fe lu e'o ga'i nai ko tavla mi'a lo zu'o dunda li'u |
| And he answered: | .i ko'a spuda fi |
| You give but little when you give of your possessions. | lu do na'o dunda lo so'u do'a mei ca lo nu do dunda se pa'u loi selpo'e be do |
| It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. | .i bo ca lo nu do dunda se pa'u lo sevzi be do kei do na'o dunda ba'e je'u |
| For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow? | .i ki'u bo loi selpo'e be do cu me ma pau nai poi ke'a na dacti co se ralte je se nurgau do fi'o se terpa lo nu do ca lo bavlamdei cu nitcu ke'a |
| And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city? | .i je lo bavlamdei zo'u lo bavlamdei ba bevri ma pau nai lo kurji dukse gerku poi ke'a derse'a lo bongu lo lutcau canre ca'o lo nu gy selyli'e loi jdali'u se ka'a lo censa tcadu |
| And what is fear of need but need itself? | .i je lo nu terpa lo nu nitcu cu me ma pau nai poi ke'a na nu ba'e nitcu |
| Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable? | .i pau nai xu lo nu do ca lo nu lo jinto pe do cu culno cu terpa lo nu taske na du lo nu do ro roi ru'i taske |
| There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome. | .i su'o re di xi pa na'o dunda pi so'u lo so'i selpo'e be vo'a .i je go'i te zu'e lo nu se sinma .i je le selmipri seldji cu rinka lo nu le seldu'a be di xi pa cu nalcurve |
| And there are those who have little and give it all. | .i su'o re di xi re ponse lo so'u mei gi'e na'o dunda pi ro ri |
| These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty. | .i lo go'i cu lacri lo nunji'e .e lo du'u lo nunji'e cu ckaji lo kamcfu .i je lo dinta'e po lo go'i cu no roi kunti |
| There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward. | .i su'o re di xi ci cu na'o dunda se ci'o lo kamgei .i je bo lo bi'u nai kamgei cu velne'u lo go'i |
| And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism. | .i ji'a su'o re di xi vo cu na'o dunda se ri'i lo nuncro .i je bo lo bi'u nai nuncro cu nu lo go'i cu ri'irjinru |
| And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue; | .i ji'a su'o re di xi mu cu na'o dunda gi'e nai lifri lo nuncro ca le zu'o dunda kei gi'e nai sisku lo kamgei gi'e nai dunda fi'o pensi lo kamvu'e |
| They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space. | .i bo lo go'i cu dunda pa'a lo nu lo xrulrmirto bu'u le vu ma'arbi'i cu vasxu le panci be ri fi'o te flecu le kensa |
| Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth. | .i la cevn. cusku se pi'o lo xance be lo go'i gi'e cismyfra le terdi ti'a lo kanla be lo go'i |
| It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding; | .i da'o .i'e da'i xamgu fa lo nu da dunda va'o lo nu da jai se cpedu .i je bo ku'i i'e sai da'i xagmau fa lo nu da dunda va'o nai lo nu da jai se cpedu kei va'o lo nu da jimpe |
| And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving | |
| And is there aught you would withhold? | |
| All you have shall some day be given; | |
| Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'. | |
| You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving." | |
| The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture. | |
| They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish. | |
| Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you. | |
| And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream. | |
| And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving? | |
| And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed? | |
| See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving. | |
| For in truth it is life that gives unto life - while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness. | |
| And you receivers - and you are all receivers - assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives. | |
| Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings; | |
| For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father. |