And [if] thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness [be] as the noonday:
Ver. 10. And if thou draw out thy soul a to the hungry.] Not thy sheaf only; relieving the necessitous out of deep commiseration, and couldst part with thy very life also for them, if duly called thereunto. Compassion excelleth alms and outward works of mercy; for when one giveth an alms, he giveth something without himself; but by compassion we relieve another by somewhat within and from ourselves.
And satisfy.] Not save him alive only by a scant allowance, - prisoners pittance.
Then shall thy light arise in obscurity.] Thou shalt abound with blessings of all sorts. See my Commonplace of Alms.
And thy darkness be as the noonday.] In agone et horrore morris erit tibi consolatio et spes salutis ac lucis. God will make thy bed in all thy sickness, and comfort thee at the hour of death.
a Ex animo, liberaliter, hilariterque