The Payment of Interest Abolished

51 And there is a great cry of the people and their wives, concerning their brethren the Jews, 2 yea, there are who are saying, 'Our sons, and our daughters, we—are many, and we receive corn, and eat, and live.' 3 And there are who are saying, 'Our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, we are pledging, and we receive corn for the famine.' 4 And there are who are saying, 'We have borrowed money for the tribute of the king, 'on' our fields, and our vineyards; 5 and now, as the flesh of our brethren 'is' our flesh, as their sons 'are' our sons, and lo, we are subduing our sons and our daughters for servants, and there are of our daughters subdued, and our hand hath no might, and our fields and our vineyards 'are' to others.'

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 5:1-5

Commentary on Nehemiah 5:1-5

(Read Nehemiah 5:1-5)

Men prey upon their fellow-creatures: by despising the poor they reproach their Maker. Such conduct is a disgrace to any, but who can sufficiently abhor it when adopted by professing Christians? With compassion for the oppressed, we should lament the hardships which many in the world are groaning under; putting our souls into their souls' stead, and remembering in our prayers and succours those who are burdened. But let those who show no mercy, expect judgment without mercy.