Neither A Borrower Or A Lender Be

Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.

USURY - In our modern day the term denotes a rate of interest greater than that which the law or public opinion permits. According to Biblical law, concerning all dealings between Israelites, all "increase" of the debt by reason of lapse of time or forbearance is forbidden, whether the rate of interest is low or high. This limit is not imposed on those dealings between Israelites and Gentiles. When discussing Jewish law the words "interest" and "usury" are interchangeable.

What Does the Scripture Says About Borrowing and Lending?

Leviticus 25:36-37 Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. [37] Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; That thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.

Deuteronomy 23:19-20 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of anything that is lent upon usury: [20] Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; But unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Psalm 15:5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Ezekiel 18:17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. He withholds his hand from sin and takes no usury or excessive interest.