The Lord’s Remission
15 “You must cancel your debts at the end of every seventh year. 2 This is the way to conduct remission: every creditor must cancel the loan that his friend borrowed, and he must not pressure his friend or brother to repay it,[a] because remission to the Lord will be proclaimed. 3 You may exact payment from a foreigner, but cancel whatever your brother owes you. 4 Moreover, there will be no poor person among you, for the Lord will surely bless you in the land that he[b] is about to give you to possess. 5 Only be certain to obey the voice of the Lord your God. Carefully observe all of these commands that I’m commanding you today, 6 because the Lord your God will bless you just as he promised. You are to lend to many nations, but not to borrow. Also, you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.”
Care for the Poor
7 “If there should be a poor man among your relatives[c] in one of the cities of the land that the Lord your God is about to give you, don’t be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your poor relative.[d] 8 Instead, be sure to open your hand to him and lend him enough to lessen his need. 9 Be careful not to think this wicked thought to yourselves: ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is drawing near…’ and you show ill will[e] toward your poor relative[f] and not give to him. He may then call to the Lord on account of you, and you will be guilty of sin. 10 You must certainly give to him and not feel regret for doing so.[g] Because of this, the Lord your God will bless all your works and everything you do. 11 Since poor people won’t cease to exist in the land, I’m commanding you: Be sure to display generosity[h] to your poor and needy relatives in your land.”
Releasing Slaves
12 “When a fellow Hebrew male or female slave is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you are to set them[i] free. 13 But when you set them free, don’t send them away empty-handed. 14 Provide for them liberally from your flock, threshing floor, and wine vat. As the Lord your God has blessed you, so give to them. 15 Don’t ever forget that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, yet the Lord your God redeemed you. Therefore, I’m giving you these commands today.
16 “If that slave[j] should say to you, ‘I won’t leave you,’ because he loves you and your household, and it was good for him to be with you, 17 then take an awl and pierce through his earlobe into the door. He then will be your slave forever. You are to do the same for your female slaves. 18 Don’t view this as a hardship for yourself when you set him free, for he will have served you for six years—twice the time of a paid worker. Then the Lord will bless you in all that you do.”
Offering the Firstborn Male Animals
19 “Set apart for the Lord your God every firstborn male among your herd and flock. You are not to put the firstborn of your ox to work or shear the firstborn of your flock. 20 Instead, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your household are to eat them every year at the place the Lord will choose. 21 If it has a blemish—lameness, blindness, or any kind of defect—you must not sacrifice it to the Lord your God. 22 In your cities,[k] both the unclean and the clean together are to eat it together,[l] as the gazelle and the deer, 23 but you are not to eat its blood. Pour it on the ground like water.”
Footnotes
- Deuteronomy 15:2 The Heb. lacks to repay it
- Deuteronomy 15:4 Lit. the Lord
- Deuteronomy 15:7 Lit. brothers
- Deuteronomy 15:7 Lit. brother
- Deuteronomy 15:9 Lit. and your eyes are evil
- Deuteronomy 15:9 Lit. brother
- Deuteronomy 15:10 Lit. for giving to him
- Deuteronomy 15:11 Lit. to open your hand
- Deuteronomy 15:12 Lit. him; and so throughout the chapter
- Deuteronomy 15:16 Lit. he
- Deuteronomy 15:22 Lit. gates
- Deuteronomy 15:22 Or completely