However, even when using the character-trait of mercy one needs a measured approach and to weigh it up with just scales, as in a position where there are two people one on each side of a certain matter and in order to have mercy on one of them one would have to be cruel to the other then one need to reflect profoundly what should be the correct way that a person should choose for himself which should be the straight and good path according to the Torah. If, for example, a borrower and lender come before you and the borrower has the ability to repay his debt either with money or portable property but does not wish to pay up, it is then correct to be “cruel” to the borrower and merciful to the lender and to force the borrower in every way possible to make him pay his debt.
On the other hand, if we see that the borrower is going on the good path and doing his very best to repay his debt a little at a time and there is hope that he will be able to completely repay his debt through his business (even if it will take a long time), and on the other hand, if we force him to repay his entire debt immediately his whole livelihood will collapse, then it is correct to have mercy on him and to give him more time to repay his debt on condition that he secures the debt with a guarantor or a security to repay by the date which they will agree. One must always be merciful to the oppressed and cruel to the oppressor and save the oppressed from the one who is oppressing him.
