Give to the First Poor Man and to the Last Alike

(Proverbs 28:27): "He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses." Rabbi Akiva said: Anyone who gives charity to a poor person will lack nothing, but if not — he who hides his eyes will have many curses. He used to say: If a poor man came to you in the morning and you gave him an issar [a small coin] and he went on his way, and another came at the afternoon prayer time, do not say, "I already gave to the first one," but it is a commandment that you give also to the last, as it is written (Ecclesiastes 11:6): "In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not let your hand rest, for you do not know which will succeed, this one or that, or whether both alike will be good."