Exodus 22:25-27 If you lend money to any of my people that is poor by you, you shall not be to him as an usurer, neither shall you lay on him usury.… There was once in this church a poor widow, and she wanted £20 to begin a small shop. Having no friends, she came to me, her minister; and I happened to know a man — not of this church — who could advance the money to the poor widow. So we went to this man — the widow and I — and the man said he would be happy to help the widow. And he drew out a bill for £20, and the widow signed it, and I signed it too. Then he put the signed paper in his desk, and took out the money and gave it to the widow. But the widow, counting it, said, "Sir, there is only £15 here." "It is all right," said the man; "that is the interest I charge." And as we had no redress, we came away. But the widow prospered. And she brought the £20 to me, and I took it myself to the office of the man who lent it, and I said to him, "Sir, there is the £20 from the widow." And he said, "Here is the paper you signed; and if you know any other poor widow, I will be happy to help her in the same way." I said to him, "You help the widow! Sir, you have robbed this widow, and you will be damned!" And, my friends, I kept my eye on that man. Before six months were over God smote him, and he died. (Wm. Anderson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. |
    |