Timely Gifts
The Buddha tells the mendicants about five timely gifts: a gift to a visitor, a gift to someone setting out on a journey, a gift to someone who is sick, a gift at a time of famine, and offering the first of the fresh harvest to those who are ethical. A verse follows. The wise give at the right time, it says, free of stinginess, and a gift given with a clear and confident mind is abundant. Those who rejoice at such a gift, or help with it in other ways, share in the merit. So one should give without holding back where a gift bears fruit.
A note on this text. The verse speaks of merit and of good deeds supporting beings ‘in the next world’.
The full text
Numbered Discourses 5.36 · 4. With Sumanā · Timely Gifts · translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · public domain (CC0) · about 1 min · on SuttaCentral
“Mendicants, there are these five timely gifts. What five? A gift to a visitor. A gift to someone setting out on a journey. A gift to someone who is sick. A gift at a time of famine. Presenting the freshly harvested grains and fruits first to those who are ethical. These are the five timely gifts.
The wise give at the right time,being bountiful and rid of stinginess.A religious donation at the right timeto the noble ones, upright and unaffected,
given with a clear and confident mind,is indeed abundant.Those who rejoice at that,or do other services,don’t miss out on the offering;they too have a share in the merit.
So you should give without holding back,where a gift is very fruitful.The good deeds of sentient beingssupport them in the next world.”