Deuteronomy 15
Debts Released in the Seventh Year
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The Year for Canceling Debts
15:1At intervals of seven years, enact a remission.
15:2This is the ordinance of the remission: release every personal debt your neighbor owes you, and do not demand repayment from your brother, because a remission to the Lord your God has been proclaimed.
15:3You may demand from a foreigner whatever he owes you, but remit your brother's debt to you.
15:4For there shall be no needy person among you, because the Lord your God will surely bless you in the land the Lord your God is giving you as an allotment to inherit,
15:5if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping and practicing all these commandments I command you today.
15:6For the Lord your God has blessed you as He told you. You will lend to many nations but will not borrow; you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.
Generosity Toward the Poor
15:7If one of your brothers is needy among you, in any of your cities in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not withdraw your heart's affection or close your hand against your needy brother.
15:8Open your hands freely to him and be sure to lend him whatever he needs, according to his lack.
15:9Take care lest a hidden, lawless thought enter your heart: The seventh year, the year of remission, is near, and you look grudgingly at your needy brother and give him nothing. He will cry to the Lord against you, and you will incur a great sin.
15:10Give freely to him and be sure to lend him whatever he needs, without a grieving heart when you give, for because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and everything you undertake.
15:11For the needy will never cease from the land. Therefore I command you to do this: Open your hands freely to your poor brother and to the needy in your land.
Release of Hebrew Slaves
15:12If your brother, a Hebrew man or Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh you shall release him free from you.
15:13When you release him free from you, do not send him away empty-handed.
15:14Provide him generously from your sheep, grain, and winepress. Give to him according as the Lord your God has blessed you.
15:15Remember that you were a household slave in the land of Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. Therefore I command you to do this.
15:16If he says to you: I will not leave you, because he loves you and your household and fares well with you,
15:17take an awl and pierce his ear against the door, and he shall be your household slave permanently. Do likewise for your female slave.
15:18Do not find it hard when they are released free from you, for he served you six years for a hired worker's annual wage. The Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.
The Firstborn Animals
15:19Consecrate to the Lord your God every male firstborn born among your cattle and sheep. Do not work your firstborn calf or shear your firstborn sheep.
15:20You and your household shall eat it before the Lord year by year, at the place the Lord your God will choose.
15:21If it has a defect, lameness or blindness or any serious defect, do not sacrifice it to the Lord your God.
15:22Eat it in your cities; the unclean among you and the clean may eat it alike, as gazelle or deer is eaten.
15:23Only, do not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.