The Us in Usury

(Proverbs 28:8 KJV)  He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

This is one of those verses that makes no sense to me.  Having said that there is one thing that jumps out at me.  God really hates credit.  This hits me because it is a recurring theme.  In our capitalistic system we live on credit.  “Usury" (interest NASB) (5392) is a part of life.  I understand the problem with “usury” (8636), but why would anyone risk loaning money if they could not gain interest?  The NASB translates “usury” as “interest” and “unjust gain” as “usury” (8636).  The KJV puts it much stronger and condemns it even more.

I feel like a revolutionary when I read this.  Maybe it doesn’t make sense because I don’t want to hear.  Should we abandon all types of credit including home mortgages?  Are all people who loan money evil?  Some Christian voices urge us to get out of all debt.  Few of us will be big lenders but maybe we could stop being borrowers.

So?  Something to seriously think about.  I don’t want to hear it.  Maybe I should pay more attention to this.