THE USURER

Thou plantest without land, thou reapest without seed. Nothing, no, nothing  is baser than the usury of this world, nothing more cruel. Why, other persons' calamities are such a man's traffic; he makes himself gain of the distress of another, and demands wages for kindness, as though he were afraid to seem merciful and, under the cloak of kindness, he digs the pitfall deeper; by the act of help, really galling a man's poverty and, in the act of stretching out the hand, thrusting him down lower, and when receiving him as in harbour, involving him in shipwreck as on a rock or reef.

Never doth the money lender enjoy his gold nor find pleasure in it; but when the interest is brought, he rejoices not that he hath received gain, but is grieved that the interest has not yet come up to the principal. And before this evil offspring is brought forth complete, he forces it to bring forth its untimely brood of vipers. For of this nature are the gains of usury; more than those wild creatures do they devour and tear the souls of the wretched. This is the bond of iniquity; this the twisted knot of oppressive bargains.

St. John Chrysostom

(01-20-04)