Deuteronomy 15

The Year for Canceling Debts

15At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.H7093H7651H8141H6213H80592This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD'S time for canceling debts has been proclaimed.H1697H8059H1167H4874H3027H5383H7453H8058H5065H7453H251H7121H3068H80593You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your brother owes you.H5237H5065H251H3027H80584However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you,H657H34H3068H1288H1288H776H3068H430H5414H5159H34235if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.H8085H8085H6963H3068H430H8104H6213H4687H6680H31176For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.H3068H430H1288H1696H5670H7227H1471H5670H4910H7227H1471H49107If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.H34H259H251H259H8179H776H3068H430H5414H553H3824H7092H3027H34H2518Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.H6605H3027H6605H5670H5670H1767H4270H26379Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.H8104H1697H1100H3824H559H7651H8141H8141H8059H7126H5869H7489H34H251H5414H7121H3068H239910Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.H5414H5414H3824H3415H5414H1558H1697H3068H430H1288H4639H4916H302711There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.H34H2308H7130H776H6680H559H6605H3027H6605H251H6041H34H776

Freeing Servants

12If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, sells himself to you and serves you six years, in the seventh year you must let him go free.H251H5680H5680H4376H5647H8337H8141H7637H8141H7971H267013And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed.H7971H2670H7971H738714Supply him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you.H6059H6059H6629H1637H3342H3068H430H1288H541415Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.H2142H5650H776H4714H3068H430H6299H6680H1697H311716But if your servant says to you, "I do not want to leave you," because he loves you and your family and is well off with you,H559H3318H157H1004H289517then take an awl and push it through his ear lobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your maidservant.H3947H4836H5414H241H1817H5650H5769H519H621318Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because his service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.H7185H5869H7971H2670H7939H4932H7916H5647H8337H8141H3068H430H1288H6213

The Firstborn Animals

19Set apart for the LORD your God every firstborn male of your herds and flocks. Do not put the firstborn of your oxen to work, and do not shear the firstborn of your sheep.H1060H2145H3205H1241H6629H6942H3068H430H5647H1060H7794H1494H1060H662920Each year you and your family are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose.H398H6440H3068H430H8141H8141H4725H3068H977H100421If an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.H3971H6455H5787H7451H3971H2076H3068H43022You are to eat it in your own towns. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it, as if it were gazelle or deer.H398H8179H2931H2889H3162H6643H35423But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water.H398H1818H8210H776H4325