Negative commandment · Lo Ta’aseh #234 of 613
That we not demand the debt of a poor person that does not have with what to pay
שלא יתבע העני בחובו כשיידע שהוא עני, ולא יצר לו
The verse · Shemot 22:24
אִם־כֶּסֶף תַּלְוֶה אֶת־עַמִּי אֶת־הֶעָנִי עִמָּךְ לֹא־תִהְיֶה לוֹ כְּנֹשֶׁה לֹא־תְשִׂימוּן עָלָיו נֶשֶׁךְ
“If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as a creditor, neither shall you lay upon him interest.”
The Rambam’s words
Not to demand payment of a debt from a poor person when one knows that he is impoverished, nor to cause him grief, as [Exodus 22:24] states: "Do not behave like a creditor towards him."
שלא יתבע העני בחובו כשיידע שהוא עני, ולא יצר לו, שנאמר "לא תהיה לו, כנושה" (שמות כב,כד).
Why · Sefer HaChinuch #67
That we not demand the debt of a poor person that does not have with what to pay
“It is from the roots of the commandment [that it is] to fix within us the trait of kindness and pity. And when they are fixed within us, we will then be fit to receive the good, and G-d will fulfill His will through us, as He desires [to do good] in this world and in the next world.”
Who & when
“And [it] is practiced by males and females in every place and at all times.”
Where in the Mishneh Torah
Hilchot Creditor and Debtor הלכות מלווה ולווה