After thinking it over, I spoke out against these nobles and officials. I told them,“ You are hurting your own relatives by charging interest when they borrow money!” Then I called a public meeting to deal with the problem.

我心里筹划，就斥责贵胄和官长说：“你们各人向弟兄取利！”于是我招聚大会攻击他们。

我心里作了决定，就斥责贵族和官长，对他们说：“你们各人借钱给弟兄，竟然索取利息！”于是我召开大会攻击他们。

我心里作了决定，就斥责贵族和官长，对他们说：“你们各人借钱给弟兄，竟然索取利息！”于是我召开大会攻击他们。

经过深思熟虑后，我便斥责这些贵族和官员，说：“你们竟然向同胞放高利贷！”于是我召开大会处理他们的问题。

我心中筹算一番以后，就谴责贵族和官长，对他们说：“你们各人向自己的同胞贷款，竟然索取高利！”于是我召开大会攻击他们。

我心裏籌劃，就斥責貴冑和官長說：「你們各人向弟兄取利！」於是我招聚大會攻擊他們。

我心裏作了決定，就斥責貴族和官長，對他們說：「你們各人借錢給弟兄，竟然索取利息！」於是我召開大會攻擊他們。

我心裏作了決定，就斥責貴族和官長，對他們說：「你們各人借錢給弟兄，竟然索取利息！」於是我召開大會攻擊他們。

經過深思熟慮後，我便斥責這些貴族和官員，說：「你們竟然向同胞放高利貸！」於是我召開大會處理他們的問題。

我心中籌算一番以後，就譴責貴族和官長，對他們說：“你們各人向自己的同胞貸款，竟然索取高利！”於是我召開大會攻擊他們。

我心裏有了主張之後，就譴責顯貴的人和官長，說：『你們各人用錢借給自己的族弟兄，竟向他索取利息啊。』於是我召集了大會來責備他們。

中心籌畫、責顯者及民長曰、爾於同宗索利、我遂集大會以攻之、

中心籌畫、責諸伯世職、曰、爾貸同宗金、權子母、果何為乎、我集會眾、

中心籌畫、遂責顯者及民長曰、爾取利於同族乎、乃招集大會以斥之、

I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them,“ You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them

I thought it over for a while. Then I accused the nobles and officials of breaking the law. I told them,“ You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large group of people to handle the matter.

I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them,“ You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them

After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them,“ Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.” So I called a large assembly against them

So I thought it over and contended with the nobles and the leading people, and said to them,“ You are lending at interest, each to his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.

After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them,“ Each of you is exacting usury from his brother.” So I called a great assembly against them.

Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them.

After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them,“ Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.” So I called a large assembly against them

Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.

I considered these things carefully and then registered a complaint with the wealthy and the officials. I said to them,“ Each one of you is seizing the collateral from your own countrymen!” Because of them I called for a great public assembly.

Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them,“ You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.

“ If you lend money to any of my people who are in need, do not charge interest as a money lender would.

Do not charge interest or make a profit at his expense. Instead, show your fear of God by letting him live with you as your relative.

“ Do not charge interest on the loans you make to a fellow Israelite, whether you loan money, or food, or anything else.You may charge interest to foreigners, but you may not charge interest to Israelites, so that the Lord your God may bless you in everything you do in the land you are about to enter and occupy.

“ Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

This is how it must be done. Everyone must cancel the loans they have made to their fellow Israelites. They must not demand payment from their neighbors or relatives, for the Lord’s time of release has arrived.This release from debt, however, applies only to your fellow Israelites— not to the foreigners living among you.

and he said to them,“ Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the Lord. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case.Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.”

Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.

“ If you lend anything to your neighbor, do not enter his house to pick up the item he is giving as security.You must wait outside while he goes in and brings it out to you.If your neighbor is poor and gives you his cloak as security for a loan, do not keep the cloak overnight.Return the cloak to its owner by sunset so he can stay warm through the night and bless you, and the Lord your God will count you as righteous.

There are hired murderers, loan racketeers, and extortioners everywhere. They never even think of me and my commands, says the Sovereign Lord.

My heart has heard you say,“ Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds,“ Lord, I am coming.”

Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude

An open rebuke is better than hidden love!

You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say.

Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.

But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there in Samaria when the army of Israel returned home. He went out to meet them and said,“ The Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah and let you defeat them. But you have gone too far, killing them without mercy, and all heaven is disturbed.And now you are planning to make slaves of these people from Judah and Jerusalem. What about your own sins against the Lord your God?Listen to me and return these prisoners you have taken, for they are your own relatives. Watch out, because now the Lord’s fierce anger has been turned against you!”Then some of the leaders of Israel— Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai— agreed with this and confronted the men returning from battle.“ You must not bring the prisoners here!” they declared.“ We cannot afford to add to our sins and guilt. Our guilt is already great, and the Lord’s fierce anger is already turned against Israel.”

God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings:“ How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked? Interlude“ Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.

But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong.

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!

Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?

If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

“ For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Enough, you princes of Israel! Stop your violence and oppression and do what is just and right. Quit robbing and cheating my people out of their land. Stop expelling them from their homes, says the Sovereign Lord.