Scripture teaches that lending to those in need is an act of kindness, but charging excessive interest can be exploitative. In Exodus 22:25 and Deuteronomy 23:19-20, God prohibits Israelites from charging interest to their brothers, emphasizing the importance of treating others with compassion. The book of Psalms highlights the righteous person as one who "does not put out his money at interest" (Psalms 15:5), while Proverbs warns that those who profit from usury will ultimately lose their wealth. By condemning usury, the Bible promotes a spirit of generosity and care for the vulnerable.
Relevance Score
29%
If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.
Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan.
Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan. You may charge a foreigner interest, but not your brother, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything to which you put your hand in the land that you are entering to possess.
He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.
who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you. Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you. You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.
Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest.
In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.
You may charge a foreigner interest, but not your brother, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything to which you put your hand in the land that you are entering to possess.
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you.
Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you.