I. As explained above, when a poor person and a wealthy one are both seeking a loan, the poor person comes first. However, this rule applies only when both would be taking free-loans, but if the wealthy person is requesting an Iskaloan [which is formed as a type of partnership], so that the lender will earn a profit from it, he is not obligated to give the poor person the free-loan (assuming the lender cannot afford to forgo profits). About this our Sages taught: “Your own [needs] take precedence over all others” (Bava Metzia 33a). Nevertheless, one must carefully assess whether he indeed cannot afford to give the free-loan, for the yetzer hara constantly entices the person to think that he cannot afford to give the free loan. If the person really could have afforded to extend the loan for free but failed to do so, that in itself will lead the person to poverty, Heaven forefend.
Similarly, if someone wishes to invest his money in some business, and a poor person came to ask for a loan, it likewise depends on whether the potential lender can afford it or not, as explained above.
