"In you they have takenbribesto shedblood;you have takeninterestand profits,and you have injuredyour neighborsfor gainby oppression,and you have forgottenMe," declaresthe LordGOD.
Now there was a greatoutcryof the peopleand of their wivesagainsttheir Jewishbrothers.
I consultedwith myself and contendedwith the noblesand the rulersand saidto them, "You are exactingusury,eachfrom his brother!"Therefore, I helda greatassemblyagainstthem.
They forgotGodtheir Savior,Who had donegreatthingsin Egypt,
He does not putout his moneyat interest,Nordoes he takea bribeagainstthe innocent.He who doesthesethingswill neverbe shaken.
Soare the waysof everyonewho gainsby violence;It takesaway the lifeof its possessors.
Your rulersare rebelsAnd companionsof thieves;Everyonelovesa bribeAnd chasesafter rewards.They do not defendthe orphan,Nordoes the widow'spleacomebeforethem.
For you have forgottenthe Godof your salvationAnd have not rememberedthe rockof your refuge.Thereforeyou plantdelightfulplantsAnd setthem with vineslipsof a strange[god].
And the dogsare greedy,they are not satisfied.And they are shepherdswho havenounderstanding;They have allturnedto their own way,Eachoneto his unjustgain,to the lastone.
"Can a virginforgether ornaments,Or a brideher attire?Yet My peoplehave forgottenMe Dayswithoutnumber.
A voiceis heardon the bareheights,The weeping[and] the supplicationsof the sonsof Israel;Becausethey have pervertedtheir way,They have forgottenthe LORDtheir God.
"For from the leastof them even to the greatestof them, Everyoneis greedyfor gain,And from the propheteven to the priestEveryonedealsfalsely.
Ohthat my headwere watersAnd my eyesa fountainof tears,That I might weepdayand nightFor the slainof the daughterof my people!
he lends[money] on interestand takesincrease;will he live?He will not live!He has committedalltheseabominations,he will surelybe putto death;his bloodwill be on his own head.
if he does not lend[money] on interestor takeincrease,[if] he keepshis handfrom iniquity[and] executestrue~justicebetweenmanand man,
"Therefore,thussaysthe LordGOD,'Becauseyou have forgottenMe and castMe behindyour back,bearnowthe [punishment] of your lewdnessand your harlotries.'"
Yes, I will cause men--My peopleIsrael--to walkon you and possessyou, so that you will becometheir inheritanceand neveragainbereavethem of children.'
You shall not oppressyour neighbor,norrob[him]. The wagesof a hiredmanare not to remainwith you all nightuntilmorning.
You shall not givehim your silverat interest,noryour foodfor gain.
Hearthis,you who tramplethe needy,to doawaywith the humbleof the land,
So as to buythe helplessfor moneyAnd the needyfor a pair of sandals,And [that] we may sellthe refuseof the wheat?"
"But woeto you, scribesand Pharisees,hypocrites,becauseyou shutoff the kingdomof heavenfrom people;for you do not enterin yourselves,nordo you allowthosewho are enteringto goin.
"Woeto you, scribesand Pharisees,hypocrites!For you cleanthe outsideof the cupand of the dish,but insidethey are fullof robberyand self-indulgence.
"The Phariseestoodand was prayingthisto himself:'God,I thankYou that I amnot likeother people:swindlers,unjust,adulterers,orevenlikethistax collector.
Zaccheusstoppedand saidto the Lord,"Behold,Lord,halfof my possessionsI will giveto the poor,and ifI have defraudedanyoneof anything,I will give backfour times as much."
And he saidto them, "Collectnomorethanwhat you have been orderedto."
But actually,I wroteto you not to associatewith anyso-calledbrotherifhe is an immoral person,orcovetous,oran idolater,ora reviler,ora drunkard,ora swindler--not evento eatwith such a one.
northieves,nor[the] covetous,nordrunkards,norrevilers,norswindlers,will inheritthe kingdomof God.
"You shall not distortjustice;you shall not be partial,and you shall not takea bribe,for a bribeblindsthe eyesof the wiseand pervertsthe wordsof the righteous.
"You shall not chargeinterestto your countrymen:intereston money,food,[or] anythingthat may be loanedat interest.
Cursedis he who acceptsa bribeto strikedownan innocentperson.'And allthe peopleshall say,'Amen.'
"You neglectedthe Rockwho begotyou, And forgotthe Godwho gaveyou birth.
not addicted to wineorpugnacious,but gentle,peaceable,free from the love of money.
Woeto them! For they have gonethe wayof Cain,and for paythey have rushed headlonginto the errorof Balaam,and perishedin the rebellionof Korah.
