Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?
When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? So greedy are they of unjust gain that they cannot spare a single day, however sacred, from pursuing it. They are strangers to God, and enemies to themselves, who love market days better than Sabbath days; and they who have lost piety will not long keep honesty. The new moon (Numbers 10:10) and Sabbath were to be kept without working or trading (Nehemiah 10:31).
And the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat - literally, 'open out' stores of wheat for sale.
The ephah - containing three seahs, or above three pecks.
Making ... small - making it below the just weight to purchasers.
And the shekel great - taking from purchasers a greater weight of money than was due. Shekels used to be weighed out in payments (Genesis 23:16). The shekel was a fix weight by which, up to the captivity, money was weighed (Jeremiah 32:9, "I weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver"). Thus they committed a double fraud against the law (Deuteronomy 25:13-14).
Falsifying the balances by deceit. Taken from Hosea 8:7, "the balances of deceit;" contrasted with just weights (cf. Proverbs 11:1, "A false balance is abomination to the Lord; but a just weight is his delight;" Proverbs 20:23, "Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good").