As secret as possible
But when you do alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does. This is a proverbial expression, the meaning of which is, do it in as secret a manner as is possible, as secret as is consistent with the doing of it at all. For it must not be left undone. Omit no opportunity of doing good, whether secretly or openly, and do it in the most effectual manner. For here is also an exception. When you are fully persuaded in your own mind that by your not concealing the good which is done, either you yourself will be enabled, or others will be stirred, to do more good, then you may not conceal it. Then let your light appear, and shine to all who are in the house. But unless the glory of God and the good of mankind oblige you to the contrary, act in as private and unobserved a manner as the nature of the thing will admit, so that your alms may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. Perhaps in the present world. Many instances of this stand recorded in all ages. But infallibly in the world to come, before the general assembly of men and angels.
1771 text
4. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth. This is a proverbial expression, the meaning of which is, do it in as secret a manner as is possible: as secret as is consistent with the doing it at all; (for it must not be left undone: omit no opportunity of doing good, whether secretly or openly) and with the doing it in the most effectual manner. For here is also an exception to be made. When you are fully persuaded in your own mind, that by your not concealing the good which is done, either you will yourself be enabled, or others excited to do the more good, then you may not conceal it: then let your light appear, and shine to all that are in the house. But unless where the glory of God and the good of mankind oblige you to the contrary, act in as private and unobserved a manner, as the nature of the thing will admit: that thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret, he shall reward thee openly. Perhaps in the present world; many instances of this stands recorded in all ages: but infallibly in the world to come, before the general assembly of men and angels.