9208. Verses 24-26. If thou shalt lend silver to My people, the needy with thee, thou shalt not be to him as a usurer; ye shall not put usury upon him. If taking a pledge thou shalt take in pledge thy companion’s garment, even at the going in of the sun thou shalt restore it to him; for it is his only covering; it is his garment for his skin, wherein he may sleep; and it shall be, when he shall cry unto Me, that I will hear; for I am merciful. “If thou shalt lend silver to My people, the needy with thee,” signifies the instruction of those who are in ignorance of truth, and yet long to learn; “thou shalt not be to him as a usurer,” signifies that this must be done from charity; “ye shall not put usury upon him,” signifies not for the sake of the consequent profit; “if taking a pledge thou shalt take in pledge thy companion’s garment,” signifies if memory-truth be separated through fallacies derived from the things of sense; “even at the going in of the sun thou shalt restore it to him,” signifies that it must be restored before there is a state of shade from the delights of external loves; “for it is his only covering,” signifies because the things of sense underlie interior things; “it is his garment for his skin,” signifies that they also clothe exterior things; “wherein he may sleep,” signifies rest upon them; “and it shall be when he shall cry unto Me,” signifies supplication to the Lord; “that I will hear,” signifies aid; “for I am merciful,” signifies that from Him is everything of aid, from mercy.