He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
He that putteth not out his money to usury - Hebrew, 'He that giveth not,' etc. The contrast is to "nor taketh reward." The wrong giving and the wrong taking stand opposed. The allusion is to Leviticus 25:37, "Thou shall not give him (thy brother) thy money upon usury." The Mosaic rule referred to money given on loan to help a needy brother Israelite: to makes a gain of his misery would have been a violation of the law of love. This law has no reference to our modern lending of money on interest, where this is done in no spirit of greediness and oppression. The Hebrew for usury х neshek (H5392)] comes from a root to bite х naashak (H5391)], so that the usury meant can only be such as grinds the poor. Opposed to giving for usury is the giving gratis, Proverbs 28:8. The believer is to be more disposed to seek the benefit of his neighbour than selfish aggrandizement (Proverbs 3:27; Matthew 5:42).
Nor taketh reward against the innocent - doth not let his judgment as an umpire be warped by a bribe from the rich against the innocent poor man (Deuteronomy 16:19; Deuteronomy 27:25).
He that doeth these things shall never be moved - he 'shall abide in the Lord's tabernacle and holy hill' (Ps He that doeth these things shall never be moved - he 'shall abide in the Lord's tabernacle and holy hill' (Psalms 15:1; 2 Peter 1:10; Psalms 55:22).