Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 15:5

"He that putteth not out his money to interest, Nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved." — Psalms 15:5 (ASV)

He that putteth not out his money to usury — The word “usury” previously denoted legal interest, or a premium for the use of money. The word is no longer used in this sense in our language; instead, it now always denotes unlawful interest: “a premium or compensation paid, or stipulated to be paid, for the use of money borrowed or retained, beyond the rate of interest established by law” (Webster). The Hebrew word used here—נשך (neshek)—means “interest,” that is, a premium or compensation for the use of money in any manner or to any extent.

The reference is to the law of the Hebrews, which forbade such lending of money to the poor, and especially to poor Israelites (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35–37). Although this was forbidden in respect to the Israelites, the lending of money on interest, or “usury” in a lawful sense, was allowed toward “strangers,” or toward the people of other nations.

See Deuteronomy 23:19-20. The ground of the distinction was that the Hebrews were regarded as a nation of brethren; that, as such, they should be willing to accommodate and aid each other; and that they should not do anything that could be regarded as unbrotherly. In respect to other people, it was allowed, not because it was proper to take advantage of their needs and to oppress them, but because this special reason did not exist in regard to them.

What might be improper “in a family,” among brothers and sisters, would be entirely proper toward those who did not sustain this special relation. We can conceive of cases—indeed, such cases often occur—when it would be extremely unkind to exact interest from a brother or an intimate friend, while it is perfectly proper to receive the ordinary allowance for the use of money in our business transactions (that is, the ordinary rate of interest) from those who do not sustain this special relation to us.

The fact that the Hebrews were allowed to take interest from the people of other nations shows that there was nothing morally wrong in the thing itself. Indeed, there can be no reason why a person, for whom it is an accommodation, should not pay for the use of money as well as for the use of any other property.

The thing forbidden here, therefore, is not the taking of interest in any case, but the taking of interest in such a way as would be oppressive and hard—as of a Hebrew demanding it from his poor and needy brother. Consequently, it would forbid the exacting of unusual and unlawful rates of interest, or taking advantage of the necessities of others—by evading the provisions of law and making their circumstances an occasion of extortion.

In one word, the thing forbidden is a harsh, grasping, griping disposition—a disposition to take advantage of the embarrassments of others to increase our own gains. Kindness and an accommodating spirit in business transactions are as much demanded now by the principles of religion as they were when this psalm was written, or as they were under the law that forbade taking interest from a poor and needy brother.

Nor taketh reward against the innocent — This means one who does not take a bribe; that is, does not accept a monetary consideration, or any other consideration, to induce him to decide a case against justice. He is not, in any way, to allow any such considerations to influence him or to sway his judgment. The taking of bribes is often expressly forbidden in the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 16:19; Deuteronomy 27:25; Proverbs 17:23).

He that doeth these things shall never be moved — That is, in answer to the question in Psalm 15:1, he shall be permitted to “abide in the tabernacle” of God and to “dwell in his holy hill.”

He shall have a solid foundation of hope; he is a friend of God and shall enjoy His favor forever. In other words, these things constitute true religion, and he who has such a character will obtain eternal life. His foundation is sure; he will be safe in all the storms of life and safe when the cold waves of death beat around him. .