Verse 5
5. Usury The law of Moses forbade a Hebrew taking usury or interest from a brother Hebrew. A pledge might be taken in security of payment, but nothing further. The noncommercial habits of the Hebrews did not require interest on capital, and the general law of equal distribution which pervaded their economy, forbade it, as oppressive to the poor. Deuteronomy 23:19-20. To further shield the poor, the creditor was required to release the debtor every seventh year. Deuteronomy 15:1-2.
Nor taketh reward against the innocent The practice of which is the immemorial blight and curse of oriental governments, and is still watching at all human courts, and threatening the peace and integrity of all nations.
For the law on this point, see Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19, and 2 Chronicles 19:6-7.
Never be moved This last clause concludes the answer to the question of Psalms 15:1: “Lord, who shall abide?” The Hebrew לעולם , ( leolam,) for ever, gives the measure of duration suitable to the subject to which it applies “He shall not be moved to eternity.” To confine these rewards of the perfect man to this life, or to deny to the language a direct reference to the unending future life, is simply to demolish all just rules of interpretation, and trifle with all serious reasoning.
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