Neh 5:7, Pro 28:9, Jer 34:9-17, Mat 18:28-35 | ESV | STEP | I took counsel with myself , and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials . I said to them, You are exacting interest , each from his brother . And I held a great assembly against them

7 I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, ^a“You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them

Proverbs 28:9

9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his ^bprayer is an abomination.

Jeremiah 34:9-17

9 ^cthat everyone should set free his Hebrew slaves, male and female, ^dso that no one should enslave a Jew, his brother. 10 And they obeyed, all the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant that everyone would set free his slave, male or female, so that they would not be enslaved again. They obeyed and set them free. 11 But afterward they turned around and took back the male and female slaves ^ethey had set free, and brought them into subjection as slaves. 12 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 13 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I myself made a covenant with your fathers when ^fI brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, saying, 14 ^g‘At the end of seven years each of you must set free the fellow Hebrew who has been sold to you and has served you six years; ^hyou must set him free from your service.’ But ⁱyour fathers did not listen to me or incline their ears to me. 15 You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes ^jby proclaiming liberty, each to his neighbor, and ^kyou made a covenant before me in the ^lhouse that is called by my name, 16 but then you turned around ^mand profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves, ⁿwhom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your slaves.

17 “Therefore, thus says the Lord: You have not obeyed me ^oby proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and to his neighbor; ^pbehold, I proclaim to you liberty ^qto the sword, to pestilence, and to famine, declares the Lord. ^rI will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.

Matthew 18:28-35

28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred ^sdenarii, ^{▼▼A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer} and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 ^uAnd should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 ^vAnd in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, ^{▼▼Greek torturers} ^xuntil he should pay all his debt. 35 ^ySo also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother ^zfrom your heart.”