LEV1064 Usury and interest are prohibited by a negative commandment, as the pasuk says [this verse], "Do not take from him usury and interest" (the two terms used in this verse, נשך and תרבית ("usury and interest"), are synonymous; the Torah mentions both to prohibit this offence with two negative commandments (Rashi)), and it can be rectified by [fulfilling] a positive commandment, as the pasuk continues (ibid.), "and let your brother live with you." What this means is: if you have taken from another usury and interest, you must return it to him so that he may live with you (See Bava Metzia 62a). As long as one has not rectified his corruption, the punishment awaiting him is very severe -- he will not be included in the resurrection of the dead, as the pasuk says (Yechezkel 18:13), "He has given with usury and taken interest--should he live? He shall not live!" Our Sages, z"l, have said (Pirkei d'Rabi Eliezer 33) that ["He shall not live!"] refers to the resurrection of the dead, because one who lends with usury and interest is not penalized with the death penalty (I.e., not even death administered by Heaven. Thus, the pasuk must mean, "He shall not live with the resurrection of the dead.") Our Sages, z"l, also said (Shemos Rabbah 31:14) that one who possesses the sin of interest, the defending angel will not put in a favorable plea on his behalf. This is the implication of "should he live?" as a rhetorical question: Is there a defender who will say that he has the right to live?! They will all respond: "He shall not live!"