Creditor: Oppressions of

Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!”

About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. …

He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading. …

For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.

They drive away the donkey of the fatherless and take the widow’s ox in pledge.

The fatherless infant is snatched from the breast; the nursing child of the poor is seized for a debt.

Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.

If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?

Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ …

Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.

I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”