On January 29, Francis referred to usury as “a dramatic social ill.”
There's a reason for the biblical bans on usury: in a zero-growth world, lending money at interest is quite likely to ruin people.
Biblical and Islamic bans on "usury" (lending money at interest) strike most modern people as pretty silly.
The creditor loses his usury and the debtor is acquitted of his obligation.
His words are to be taken literally; all that He promises He gives with usury.
In these uncertain conditions, speculation, usury and anarchy were rife.
Schaff-Herzog: "usury, originally, any increase on any loan."
He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
That may be usury in one state which is only interest in another.
In this proverb the gain of usury is classed with unjust gain that shall not bless the gatherer.
c.1300, from Medieval Latin usuria, from Latin usura "usury, interest," from usus, from stem of uti (see use (v.)). Originally the practice of lending money at interest, later, at excessive rates of interest.
the sum paid for the use of money, hence interest; not, as in the modern sense, exorbitant interest. The Jews were forbidden to exact usury (Lev. 25:36, 37), only, however, in their dealings with each other (Deut. 23:19, 20). The violation of this law was viewed as a great crime (Ps. 15:5; Prov. 28:8; Jer. 15:10). After the Return, and later, this law was much neglected (Neh. 5:7, 10).
