◀- Deuteronomy 15
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The Seventh Year Release For The Poor
(1) At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release.
(2) And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it from his neighbor, or of his brother, because it is called the LORD’S release.
(3) From a foreigner you may require it; but your hand shall release that which is yours with your brother;
(4) Except when there shall be no poor among YOU; for the LORD shall greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it.
(5) Only if you carefully listen to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command you this day.
(6) For the LORD your God blesses you, as he promised you; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; and you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.
Generosity in Lending and Giving
(7) If there is among YOU a poor man of one of your brethren within any of your gates in your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother,
(8) but you shall open your hand wide to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, which he lacks.
(9) Beware that there is not a thought in your wicked heart, saying, 'The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,' and your eye is evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cries to the LORD against you, and it is sin to you.
(10) You shall surely give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; because for this thing the LORD your God shall bless you in all your works, and in all that you put your hand to.
(11) For the poor shall never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor, and to your needy, in thy land.'
Free Hebrew Servants In The Seventh Year
(12) If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, and serves you six years; then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you.
(13) And when you send him out free from you, you shall not let him go away empty-handed.
(14) You shall furnish him liberally from your flock, and from your threashing floor, and from your winepress. From that which the LORD your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.
(15) You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this thing today.
(16) And it shall be, if he says to you, 'I will not go away from you,' because he loves you and your house, because he is well with you,
(17) Then you shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. And also to your female servant you shall do likewise.
(18) It shall not seem hard to you, when you send him away free from you; for he has been worth a double hired servant in serving you six years, and the LORD your God shall bless you in all that you do.
Firstborn Animals Sanctified to the Lord
(19) All the firstborn males that come from your herd and from your flock you shall sanctify to the LORD your God; you shall do no work with the firstborn from your bulls, nor shear the firstborn from your sheep.
(20) You shall eat it before the LORD your God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, you and your household.
(21) But if there is any blemish on it, if it is lame, or blind, or has any bad blemish, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
(22) You shall eat it within your gates; the unclean and the clean person shall eat it alike, as a roebuck, and as a hart.
(23) Only you shall not eat the blood of it; you shall pour it on the ground as water.