25:35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and {r} fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: [yea, though he be] a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
(r) In Hebrew it is, if his hand shake: meaning if he stretch forth his hand for help as one in misery.
25:35 A sojourner - Understand it of proselytes only, for of other strangers they were permitted to take usury, Deu 23:20.
25:35-38 Poverty and decay are great grievances, and very common; the poor ye have always with you. Thou shalt relieve him; by sympathy, pitying the poor; by service, doing for them; and by supply, giving to them according to their necessity, and thine ability. Poor debtors must not be oppressed. Observe the arguments here used against extortion: Fear thy God. Relieve the poor, that they may live with thee; for they may be serviceable to thee. The rich can as ill spare the poor, as the poor can the rich. It becomes those that have received mercy to show mercy.
