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Exodus 34:20

The firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a sheep: but if thou wilt not give a price for it, it shall be slain. The firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem: neither shalt thou appear before me empty.

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The verse in its languages

Vulgate (Clementine): Primogenitum asini redimes ove : sin autem nec pretium pro eo dederis, occidetur. Primogenitum filiorum tuorum redimes : nec apparebis in conspectu meo vacuus.
Septuagint (Swete): καὶ πρωτότοκον ὑποζυγίου λυτρώσῃ προβάτῳ· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ λυτρώσῃ αὐτό, τιμὴν δώσεις. πᾶν πρωτότοκον τῶν υἱῶν σου λυτρώσῃ· οὐκ ὀφθήσῃ ἐνώπιόν μου κενός.
Hebrew (WLC): וּפֶ֤טֶר חֲמוֹר֙ תִּפְדֶּ֣ה בְשֶׂ֔ה וְאִם לֹ֥א תִפְדֶּ֖ה וַעֲרַפְתּ֑וֹ כֹּ֣ל בְּכ֤וֹר בָּנֶ֨יךָ֙ תִּפְדֶּ֔ה וְלֹֽא יֵרָא֥וּ פָנַ֖י רֵיקָֽם

The Fathers on this verse

St Ambrose Concerning Widows, Chapter V. Liberality to the poor is recommended by the example of the widow the Gospel, whose two mites were preferred to the large gifts of the rich. The two mites are treated as mystically representing the two Testaments. What that treasure is for which we are taught to offer, after the example of the wise men, three gifts, or after that of the widow, two. St. Ambrose concludes the chapter by an exhortation to widows to be zealous in good works

32. Strive to equal her, my daughters: “It is good to be zealously affected in a good thing.” “Covet earnestly the best gifts.” The Lord is ever looking upon you, Jesus looks upon you when He goes to the treasury, and you think that of the gain of your good works assistance is to be given to those in need. What is it, then, that you should give your two mites and gain in return the Lord’s Body? Go not, then, empty into the sight of the Lord your God, empty of mercy, empty of faith, empty of chastity; for the Lord Jesus is wont to look upon and to commend not the empty, but those who are rich in virtues. Let the maiden see you at work, let her see you ministering to others. For this is the return which you owe to God, that you should make your return to God from the progress of others. No return is more acceptable to God than the offerings of piety.